Four years after local developer and banker Jim Hewitt began promoting the idea of an NBA franchise in Orlando. To get things moving the lured then Philadelphia 76ers General Manager Pat Williams to Florida, and together they went to work selling merchandise, while persuading locals to make $100 deposits on season-ticket reservations, to convince the NBA to give them an expansion team.

The dream finally became a reality on November 4th as a soldout crowd watched the Magic lose their first-ever game at the Orlando Arena 111-106 to the New Jersey Nets. Two nights later, Magic fans would get to enjoy their team's first win as the Magic stunned the New York Knicks 118-110.

However, there would not be much success that first year as the Magic finished last in the Central Division with a typical expansion like 18-64 record.