Ever since the Miami Heat retired Alonzo Mourning’s jersey number in a drawn out ceremony on Monday night, the talk around Magic Land – radio, internet, and print – has been “who’s jersey number should the Orlando Magic retire?”
Considering the Magic and Heat share a similar, short history, it makes sense to wonder who should be the Magic’s first. Alonzo Mourning certainly makes sense for the Heat, he holds many of their career statistical records, he was the face of the franchise for a period of time, and he was on the roster that won the Heat’s NBA championship. For the Orlando Magic, there are fewer tangible standards for which to base the decision on. Our most physically gifted former players – Shaquille O’Neal, Penny Hardaway, and Tracy McGrady – all left the franchise after relatively short tenures and with varying degrees of animosity. Scratch that, all three departures were ugly, with Shaq’s being the most devastating.
It is easy to project into the future and see young, dynamic players such as Jameer Nelson and Dwight Howard as players who will have the skill, potential success, and longevity to be obvious choices for jersey retirement. And if it turns out that one of these two players – assuming Nelson retires before Howard – are the Magic’s first, then that would be perfectly acceptable to this fan.
But there are two other players that fall into a different category of consideration. The category is “beloved” and the players are Nick Anderson and Darrell Armstrong. Both players enjoyed individual success with the Magic. Anderson enjoyed a bit more team success, being an integral part of the Magic’s run from 1994 to 1996. But their worthiness for consideration goes beyond statistics, league-wide perception, or tangible things such as awards, all star appearances, and all-NBA teams. It should be noted that Armstong did achieve an impressive double: winning both the 6th Man Award and Most Improved Player Award in 1999. In order to separate these two as candidates, I am going to point out that despite his long tenure with the Magic, Armstong has yet to make his way back to the franchise. I’m not implying that he will or even needs to, but this is the most obvious difference I choose to use in focusing more on Anderson as a candidate.
I should state for the record that Nick Anderson has always been and will continue to be my favorite Magic player of all time. Despite this partiality, I would like to also state that I will not be upset if the Magic choose not to retire Anderson’s jersey number, provided I agree with their reasons. Let’s just say that if O’Neal’s “32” ever hangs from the rafters but Anderson’s “25” doesn’t, I will be one of many Magic fans in an uproar. I simply intend to lay out a case for his consideration.
Nick Anderson was the first ever draft pick for the franchise in 1989. Beginning with his rookie year, Anderson was an integral piece on the court and by his third year, he was leading the team in scoring at nearly 20 points per game and, at least locally, was in consideration for an all-star spot. I think it speaks highly of Anderson that in his fourth year he again averaged nearly 20 points per game despite the addition of Shaquille O’Neal. Anderson’s game was centered around quick, fearless drives to the basket, a strong interior presence, and aggressive defense. By 1993, most of his statistical averages started to drop, but that had more to do with the presence and emergence of players such as Penny Hardaway, Dennis Scott, Brian Shaw, and Horace Grant, in addition to the sheer dominance of O’Neal, than it did with Nick Anderson’s ability. In fact, his play continued to improve.
It is easy to focus on the missed free throws in the 1995 NBA Finals. For me to trivialize them would be unfair. But they are worth pointing out not because they cost us a title – they didn’t, it only would have kept us from being swept – but because those missed free throws had an impact on Anderson as a player. Two season’s later, Anderson’s free throw percentage tumbled nearly 30 percent off of his career average, and he was not as aggressive on offense as he had been. He drove less because he was afraid of going to the line. Although he emerged from this funk during his final two seasons with the Magic, it still seems to be the primary association that NBA fans outside of Orlando have with Anderson, and this is also unfair.
Local perception seems to be a completely different story. There is no mistaking the relationship that Nick Anderson has with Magic fans. For every fan who might discount Nick, there are 10 others who love him (yes, I did the math!). He is made for his current role as community ambassador. Sure, he has aspirations for something beyond this, either with the Magic or another team, but I can’t imagine him doing another job any better than he does his current one. Nick loves interacting with the fans, telling the old stories, or new ones, and flashing that engaging smile of his. When Magic fans think of smiles, they think of O’Neal or Howard, but take another look at Nick’s pearly whites, he can compete! Every time Nick hears from a fan how important or loved he is, he acts as if he is hearing it for the first time and expresses to that fan his appeciation and gratitude.
Nick Anderson leads the Magic in number of seasons played (10), number of games played (692), total field goals (4075), total field goal attempts (8976), steals (1004), and points (10,650). He also is the architect of the single greatest, most memorable play in Magic history: The Steal. (Hey, those of you who prefer the Dunk over Duncan, I feel you.).
Beyond the statistics and memorable plays is this single most important point I want to make: Nick Anderson always wanted to stay with the Magic. Orlando became his home and he has been an Orlando resident for 20 years now which puts him among the longest tenured residents in this transient city. He signed new contracts with the Magic, having no intention of leaving this team. He wanted to retire a member of the Magic. Even when he was traded by the team, he did not engage in the vitriolic rhetoric that other former players did. When his playing days were over, he came back and made his peace with the team – or perhaps they made their peace with him. Regardless, the Orlando Magic and Nick Anderson remain synonymous in my mind.
So, who decides what qualifies someone for being worthy of having their jersey retired? Do they have to have won a title with the team? Of course not! Plenty of players who didn’t win titles with their teams, including all-time greats, have their jerseys hanging in rafters (one of them coaches for us!). Do they have to have been among the absolute best in the game at the time, or an all-time great? Well, no, they don’t. The jerseys of Brad Davis and Rolando Blackman are hanging in Dallas. Calvin Murphy’s hangs in Houston. Dan Majerle’s hangs in Phoenix. Jeff Hornacek’s hangs in Utah. These are just the most obvious ones. So, if you feel that a player has to be Titan among giants to be worthy, or has to win a title to be worthy, then you will likely disagree with me. But I would argue that a team needs only its own counsel to make this decision, and if a player represents the franchise well, on and off the court, has the team career statistics, and has the love and support of the fans, then he holds all the merits he needs to have his number hanging.
I don’t know what the Orlando Magic intend for Nick’s or any other Magic player’s number. At this point, they have yet to reveal if they plan to retire Anderson’s jersey. If they don’t plan to do it, then that is fine, I am sure they have good reasons. But if they do plan to do it, then I would not be at all surprised to see them do it as part of what will surely be extravagant celebrations of the opening of the new events center.
Of course, if they really want to do it right, then they would have Nick’s jersey retirement ceremony be one of the final events to take place in the O-Rena. After all, it would be fitting to have #25 hang from the rafters of the building where Nick did all his work, even if only for one night.
But if that never happens, hey that’s alright…his #25 is still hanging up in my closet, where it will remain, and his plays will always be part of my memories. And to this fan, that is all that matters.
This message was not subject of approval by the NBA or the Orlando Magic. The views expressed in this blog do not necessarily reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA, but solely the writer.
"My life will go on, this much I know. Cars and games will come and go. But never once will I forgetta, the way we danced, dear Dick Bavetta." - from "I Left My Heart In Dick Bavetta"
Posts: 9263 | Location: It's Hard Out Here for a Blog Pimp. | Registered: February 09, 2006
Great article LODM. I've been on the fence for a while on whether or not 25 should be in the rafters. You make a compelling argument. While he doesn't have the numbers that would lead you to believe it should be done, I think his loyalty to the franchise and the city puts it over the top. The newcomers forget that he was the only thing going for this franchise for a long time. As much as the steal, I'll never forget his long banked 3 pointer at the buzzer to get to overtime. And if I remember right, he hit a couple more to get us the win. It really would be a fitting send off to the old building to put his number up there.
Posts: 1159 | Location: North Hollywood | Registered: March 13, 2007
Good read, still disagree, but it's not like I would complain if it happened.
IMO, it's an honor that should be reserved for the very best of the very best. The fact other teams have retired players of Nicks caliber is justification rather than rational.
"I'm still intirigued about Ryan Anderson. Only problem is he may be just a little more physical version of Brian Cook." - SmackDaddy
"I think he's much better than those two (Garrity & Cook). I think he'll be a much bigger asset than Battie. I still think he's a finesse player who fails to address the Magic's need". - KITNO (epic RA hater) Sig: An AddiFB Joint
Posts: 4399 | Location: Watching Raheem Morris turn the Bucs into a laughing stock again | Registered: January 28, 2008
Originally posted by KillingInTheNameOf: Good read, still disagree, but it's not like I would complain if it happened.
IMO, it's an honor that should be reserved for the very best of the very best. The fact other teams have retired players of Nicks caliber is justification rather than rational.
Normally, I would agree but Nick has done as much off the court as well as on it. The guy was and still is the epitome of "team player", which has been rare for this team considering the number of players we have had whose ego's and personal interests always came first.
If I could take one player from the past to add to our current team, Nick Anderson would be on top of my list.
Posts: 6541 | Location: Amway Arena Lot 3 waiting for the next game | Registered: February 23, 2006
great read...you make a ton of great points, but imo the retiring of a jersey shouldn't be done for sentimental reasons. It should be earned thru on court deeds and overall greatness as a player. I don't think nick's career in orlando warrants a jersey retirement. I think the big banner they have of him in the lobby is sufficient. I hope they bring that to the new arena.
Originally posted by no_ma'am: great read...you make a ton of great points, but imo the retiring of a jersey shouldn't be done for sentimental reasons. It should be earned thru on court deeds and overall greatness as a player. I don't think nick's career in orlando warrants a jersey retirement. I think the big banner they have of him in the lobby is sufficient. I hope they bring that to the new arena.
I feel pretty much the same. I wouldn't have a problem if it does happen, I think Nick deserves to be honored by this franchise I just don't know if it is by retiring his number.
I look at it this way, some day many years from now after Dwight has won multiple championships and resigned with us multiple times we are going to want to give him the highest honor possible and I think that is retiring his number. Would it take away from that honor if we retire Nick's as the first number?
I often wonder, if my Grandmother had miraculously sprouted a pair of testicles whilst my Grandfather was alive, would I then have to also refer to her as Grandfather? -rtillaree
Posts: 10084 | Location: Trying to figure out why the Fan Voice Blog gets 10 views and JJ/Carlos/Jameer/SVG sucks threads get a million views | Registered: February 15, 2006
Personally, I dont think Nick's # should be retired. He was good but not great. He does stuff for the community but that's his job. He is getting paid to do it.
As others have voiced, I would certainly not complain if he had his number retired, but I lean toward not doing it.
Anything post-career should not be considered, so the fact that he has come back to the organization should be meaningless. In fact, it would almost appear suspicious and a hint of favoritism, if they did it.
But Nick will always be close to the heart of any Magic fan that started from the beginning of the franchise, and I hope they do something to honor him; even if it is naming some portion of the new building after him. I thought that the Heat renaming their workout room to the "Zo Zone" was actually a very admirable gesture.
I'm not surprised to see that there is a split between those that would like it and those that wouldn't.
Please consider one more point and tell me if it sways your thinking... If it isn't Nick, then it will be well over 30 years into our history before any Magic player gets his jersey retired. Would you be OK waiting that long?
Is it preferable to get it right, no matter how long that might mean?
"My life will go on, this much I know. Cars and games will come and go. But never once will I forgetta, the way we danced, dear Dick Bavetta." - from "I Left My Heart In Dick Bavetta"
Posts: 9263 | Location: It's Hard Out Here for a Blog Pimp. | Registered: February 09, 2006
Originally posted by Live or Die Magic: Thanks for the compliments and the comments guys.
I'm not surprised to see that there is a split between those that would like it and those that wouldn't.
Please consider one more point and tell me if it sways your thinking... If it isn't Nick, then it will be well over 30 years into our history before any Magic player gets his jersey retired. Would you be OK waiting that long?
Is it preferable to get it right, no matter how long that might mean?
I have no problem in waiting. It will make the moment that much more revered.
And would they PLEASE take down that STUPID #6 or, at the very least, not put it in the new arena. That is just embarrassing....
Originally posted by Live or Die Magic: Thanks for the compliments and the comments guys.
I'm not surprised to see that there is a split between those that would like it and those that wouldn't.
Please consider one more point and tell me if it sways your thinking... If it isn't Nick, then it will be well over 30 years into our history before any Magic player gets his jersey retired. Would you be OK waiting that long?
Is it preferable to get it right, no matter how long that might mean?
I have no problem in waiting. It will make the moment that much more revered.
And would they PLEASE take down that STUPID #6 or, at the very least, not put it in the new arena. That is just embarrassing....
Originally posted by Live or Die Magic: Thanks for the compliments and the comments guys.
I'm not surprised to see that there is a split between those that would like it and those that wouldn't.
Please consider one more point and tell me if it sways your thinking... If it isn't Nick, then it will be well over 30 years into our history before any Magic player gets his jersey retired. Would you be OK waiting that long?
Is it preferable to get it right, no matter how long that might mean?
yeah...that's how it goes i guess. It seemed like penny and shaq would definetly get their # retired, then it seemed like tmac would be the first. The magic as an organization have had trouble hanging onto their stars. Hopefully this trend won't continue with dwight.
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