ORLANDO — For the first time in five years, the Orlando Magic have won the Southeast Division.
Can they win it two seasons in a row for the first time in almost 15 years?
DraftKings Orlando is the favorite with -140 odds to win the Southeast Division in the 2024-25 season. The Miami Heat are within reach with +150 odds and are arguably the biggest threat to Orlando winning the division for a second straight year. The Magic went 1-3 against Miami last season.
The Magic won the division by a game over Miami last season, which was the difference between Orlando, the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, and the Heat, who made the playoffs.
The Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards are all well behind the Magic. Atlanta is +1,400, while the Hornets are +8,000 and Washington is +40,000.
The last time Orlando won its division in back-to-back seasons was from 2007-10, when it won the Southeast Division three years in a row. The Magic have won 50+ games each season and last made the NBA Finals in 2009.
The threat of a Heat team led by Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo can’t be discounted. They’re fresh off a run to the NBA Finals a year ago and have shown they can be at their best when it matters most.
Orlando has made big strides in each of the last two seasons, going from 22 wins to 34 in 2022-23 and winning 47 games last season. With the continued growth of a team that was the fifth-youngest in the NBA and the addition of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency this offseason, the Magic could be poised to take another leap in win totals next season, and it will likely be necessary if they want to win the Southeast Division for a second straight season.
