Jonathan Abrams of Grantland wrote a fantastic oral history of the 1990s Orlando Magic – Shaquille O’Neal, Penny Hardaway, Nick Anderson. They were a budding elite team that never reached the top (thanks in part to Joe Dumars).
The story starts with the Magic’s inaugural season:
David Steele
broadcaster, Orlando Magic
The first preseason game was against Detroit in October of ’89. They were coming off the championship and Orlando beat them. The crowd went crazy. My call is embarrassingly excited for a preseason game.
John Gabriel
team executive, later general manager, Orlando Magic
Everybody ran off the floor like we’d just won the world championship.