The Orlando Magic Are Now Poised For A Monster Season After Deciding To Bring Back Their Iconic Stars & Stripes Throwback Jersey

Nathaniel S. Butler. Getty Images.

One thing about me is I'm a big-time NBA throwback guy. I never really understood why the NBA and their jersey partner always tried to reinvent the wheel when it came to new alternate jerseys for the upcoming season since everything always came off as trying way too hard to be different or futuristic or create a look that had nothing to do with the actual team.

As a result, some of the alternate jerseys have been without a doubt a disaster. Every year we would get a terrible design, I always wondered why teams didn't just play the hits. Bring back the old looks from the 90s that were some of the best designs the NBA has ever seen. Over time there have been teams that smartened up and we got things like the purple Raptors throwback, the teal Grizzlies throwback, the pinstripe Hornets throwback etc.

For my money, Orlando has always been a franchise that while they may not have the legendary team success, their jersey game has been incredible since their inception in 1989. It didn't matter who your favorite team was during the mid to late 90s, chances are you had something Magic related. Penny Hardaway was that dude.

So what do they do ahead of the 2023-24 season when most expect the current Magic to take a leap? Easy. They play the hits and give the people what they want

A+. 10 out of 10 no notes.

There are a few iconic jerseys throughout NBA history, and the Magic's stars and stripes are absolutely one of them. Maybe this is just because I'm a 90s kid, but when I see that jersey this is all my brain immediately thinks of

(those pinstripe throwbacks are also fire tbh)

Sure the Magic weren't all that great when they rocked these in the late 90s and they were winning around 41 games and losing in the first round of the playoffs, but don't focus on that part. They looked awesome and that's all that matters right now. 

Do you know what a leap it would be for the 2023-24 Magic to win 41 games and make the playoffs? For a team that hasn't made the playoffs in 3 years and hasn't been past the 1st round since 2009-10, the Magic enter this season with a bunch of awesome young talent and now some fire jerseys to match. If that doesn't scream they're a lock to take a leap this season then I don't know what does. 

So let this be a lesson to every NBA team out there. Go this route when it comes to your alternates. It never fails. People love nostalgia and nobody cares about a futuristic 2023 design. Give us the classics. It's Day 1 stuff really. You look good you play good (well), it's not that complicated. Hopefully over the next few weeks we'll see other NBA teams follow suit, because I can't see how anyone wouldn't love to see the combination of 2023 NBA talent + 1990s NBA jerseys. It's maybe the most no brainer in the history of no brainers, and it's obvious the Magic understand that.

The Magic are slated for 36.5 wins this season and with the internal development of their young guys in addition to this decision, I don't see how they don't smash that over.