Before there was Shaq & Kobe, there was Shaq & Penny. This was the next big duo in the league and both were in their early 20s. The duo was a force to be reckoned with, as evidenced by their 1st place finish out east behind a 57-25 record. They advanced all the way to the Finals, where they were swept 0-4 by the Houston Rockets.
Starting Lineup
Shaquille O’Neal, C (OVR 93)
Age: 23
Height: 7’1”
Traits: Two-Way Star
Best Stats: Strength, Blocks, Dunks
As the former number one overall pick, Shaq was still “developing” while playing for his first NBA team. No matter how young, Shaq was a monster. He led this team with averages of 29.3 points, 11.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.4 blocks per game.
Penny Hardaway, PG (OVR 85)
Age: 23
Height: 6’7”
Traits: Two-Way Star
Best Stats: Ball Handling, Layups, Stamina
Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway was a 90s star, repeatedly selected for the All-Star game. This season was just his second in the league and his averages of 20.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game might make you think he was a more experienced player. He excelled next to Shaq, but found his career later derailed by knee injuries.
Dennis Scott, SF (OVR 81)
Age: 26
Height: 6’8”
Traits: Sharpshooter
Best Stats: 3PT, Mid-Range, Layups
Dennis Scott was considered a 3-point specialist during this era. Averaging 12.9 points, 2.1 assists and 2.4 3-pointers made per game, he filled his role of knocking down perimeter shots when needed. He was quite efficient from outside, making 42.6% of his 3-point shot attempts.
Nick Anderson, SG (OVR 79)
Age: 27
Height: 6’6”
Traits: Sharpshooter
Best Stats: 3PT, Strength, Mid-Range
Nick Anderson was another strong scoring option on the outside for this Magic team. With Penny and Shaq drawing so much defensive attention, Penny could often find Anderson and Scott for open 3-point shots. Anderson filled his role with 15.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.4 3-pointers made per game.
Horace Grant, PF (OVR 80)
Age: 29
Height: 6’10”
Traits: Elite Defender
Best Stats: Strength, Post Offense, Rebounding
Rounding out the starters was Horace Grant, a solid interior defender to complement Shaq. He averaged 12.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1 steal and 1.2 blocks per game. Between Grant and Shaq, there were not many teams that could battle inside and compete with their efficiency and strength.
NBA 2K19 1994-1995 Orlando Magic Roster
Name | OVR | Position | Height | Age |
---|---|---|---|---|
Shaquille O’Neal | 93 | C | 7’1” | 22 |
Penny Hardaway | 85 | PG | 6’7” | 23 |
Dennis Scott | 81 | SF | 6’8” | 26 |
Horace Grant | 80 | PF | 6’10” | 29 |
Nick Anderson | 79 | SG | 6’6” | 27 |
Donald Royal | 72 | SF | 6’8” | 28 |
Brian Shaw | 72 | PG | 6’6” | 28 |
Anthony Bowie | 70 | SG | 6’6” | 31 |
Tree Rollins | 69 | C | 7’1” | 39 |
Jeff Turner | 69 | PF | 6’9” | 32 |