The former 4x NBA All-Star reflects his time with magic

In the early years of Orlando Magic, the franchise hit gold when it formed a dynamic duo. In the early nineties they had successive lottery picks and designed the center of Shaquille O'Neal and guard Annery “Penny” Hardaway. With the two stars, the magic immediately became contendable.

The Magic performed playoffs for the first time in Hardaway's rookie season. The team was led by O'Neal, who took fourth place in the MVP vote in his second year. In the 1994/95 campaign, Orlando surprised everyone when they made it to the NBA final.

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Although the magic was finally swept by the Houston Rockets, the young team showed promising. Unfortunately for Orlando, O'Neal decided in 1996 to sign the Los Angeles Lakers and left his co-star.

Almost 30 years since the separation of O'Neal-hardaway, people still remember what the duo did in just four years. In the recent episode of “The Ogs Show”, the former four-time all-star had a moment of thinking about his time with Shaq.

“We had to be one of the teams who had the best list that honestly didn't win a championship,” said Hardaway. “This team was something special. The early years were just like rock stars.”

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“It was a crew, man. You put together this team. It was unfortunate that we didn't stay together. The big guy was thrown by the Lakers.”