Orlando Magic

With the Magic tipping off their season this month, no two people will be more responsible for the team’s fortunes than star center Dwight Howard and head coach Stan Van Gundy.

The 6-foot-11-inch Howard is entering his sixth season in Orlando, and Magic fans are hopeful the 24-year-old will expand his already-dominant game, particularly on the offensive end of the court. Meanwhile, Van Gundy, in his third year with the Magic, must meld several new players into a cohesive unit. Heightening the challenge, as defending Eastern Conference champions, the team will have a target squarely on its back.

Beyond wins and losses, there is an economic impact to watch, too. This is the team’s final season at Amway Arena, so success could mean a boom to the sale of game tickets and luxury suites for the opening of Amway Center next October.

Photo courtesy of the Orlando Magic/Ronald Martinez