Shaq Congratulates Dennis Scott on Magic Hall of Fame Induction: 'You Helped Build That Franchise'
Dennis Scott was inducted into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame today. Scott was a pillar for the Magic, helping them reach the 1995 NBA Finals during his seven-year run with the franchise. His former teammate, Shaquille O'Neal, lavished Scott with praise in wake of his commemoration.
Shaq took time on NBA TV to rave about Scott's resounding impact, saying:
"Congratulations. You also kept it coming to me. I kicked it back to you. We trusted each other. Best shooter in Orlando Magic history. I'm going to say it's about time Orlando Magic. D-Scott should have been first, because I remember you helped build that franchise. I know Penny [Hardaway] and myself and Dwight Howard will always get the credit but it's guys like you, Anthony Bowie, Scott Skiles, Jeff Turner who really kept things going. So congratulations best friend. Well deserved."
The Orlando Magic were introduced to the NBA as an expansion team in the 1989-90 season. A standout career at Georgia Tech University earned Scott the No. 4 overall pick in the 1990 NBA Draft. He immediately made his presence felt in Orlando.
Scott was named to the All-Rookie first team in 1991, and would receive superstar help from O'Neal in 1992 and Hardaway in 1993. He helped the Magic transcend the early woes that were commonplace for a newly established franchise and helped the game of basketball evolve in the process.
O'Neal proclaiming Scott the 'best shooter in Orlando Magic history' is anything but puffery. Scott's 981 three-pointers are a franchise-best. He ranks No. 4 in Magic history in three-point percentage at 40.3 percent shooting from beyond the arc. However, Cuttino Mobley (No. 1), Jodie Meeks (No. 2) and Courtney Lee (No. 3) all played only one season in Orlando, making Scott's clip all the more impressive.
Scott enjoyed starting and reserve roles while in Orlando, remaining a consummate professional throughout. He never let his per 36 minutes averages fall out of line with his career numbers when his role saw slight reductions. He finished No. 5 in NBA Sixth Man of the Year voting in 1995 behind 12.9 points per game.
He was one of O'Neal's favorite players to kick to, which Shaq harped on in his adulatory remarks. Scott's reliability helped Orlando win 57 games in 1994-95 and a franchise record 60 wins in 1995-96.
In the latter season, Scott returned to the starting lineup and took the league by storm, setting the single-season record for three-pointers made with 267 trifectas -- a record that lasted 10 years. He also set a single-game record of 11 threes against the Atlanta Hawks on Apr. 18, 1996 that would last seven years.
For all of Scott's contributions to the Magic franchise and the league, his induction can be described in two words -- well deserved.
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