Mike Bianchi: Magic have two Hall of Fame inductees -- Dwight Howard and, um, Billy Donovan

Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel on Sep 3, 2025

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ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Magic are celebrating a milestone this weekend that few NBA franchises can claim — two Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductees in the same class. For a franchise that’s spent most of its existence hovering between rebuilding and re-rebuilding, having two people connected to the franchise enshrined in Springfield is a big deal.

Except … well, let’s talk about who these two people are.

First, there’s Dwight Howard, whom I consider to be the Magic’s greatest all-time player; the man who dragged Orlando to the 2009 NBA Finals by blocking shots, dunking on everyone and flashing that cartoonish smile. Yes, Shaq had a greater overall career, but he’s in the Hall of Fame mainly because he was a Laker. Dwight is in the Hall of Fame almost solely for what he accomplished in Orlando.

Dwight was Superman in blue and white. He was the perfect mix of dominance and joy, at least until his infamous trade request turned him into the villain of Disney’s happiest kingdom. But hey, give credit where it’s due: Dwight gave the Magic relevance for nearly a decade and he’s easily their most accomplished homegrown star.

And then there’s the other inductee: Billy Donovan. Yes, that Billy Donovan — the University of Florida legend, two-time national champion and the guy who once accepted the Magic head coaching job … for about as long as it takes to microwave a Hot Pocket.

In 2007, the Magic thought they’d landed their man. A press conference was held. A rebrand was planned. Maybe even a few “Billy D” bobbleheads were ordered. But just a few days later, Donovan had a change of heart and bailed on Orlando faster than an I-Drive souvenir stand goes out of business.

Even so, technically, the Magic have two Hall of Famers going in this weekend. One is the most dominant center the franchise has ever had. The other is a guy whose Magic tenure lasted about as long as a TikTok video. The greatest player in franchise history and the greatest footnote in franchise history.

Dwight is a legit legend who gave the city unforgettable years and a memorable Finals run. And Billy D? Hey, at least Orlando was part of his Hall of Fame story — even if it’s just a weird oddity.

So raise a glass, Magic fans. Two Hall of Famers are yours — kind of.