The 1996–97 NBA season was the Magic's eighth season in the National Basketball Association. After losing Shaquille O'Neal via free agency to the Los Angeles Lakers in the offseason, the Magic acquired Rony Seikaly from the Golden State Warriors while signing free agents Gerald Wilkins and Derek Strong. Early into the season, the Magic played two games against the New Jersey Nets in Tokyo, Japan. Head coach Brian Hill was fired 49 games into the season after a 24–25 start, and Anfernee Hardaway was generally blamed for leading a player revolt that resulted in his dismissal. Hill was replaced with Richie Adubato for the remainder of the season as the Magic finished third in the Atlantic Division with a 45–37 record. Hardaway was selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game, despite playing in just 59 games due to injury.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Magic lost in five games to the Miami Heat. As of 2016, this was the only time that both teams from Florida ever faced each other in the NBA Playoffs. Following the season, Dennis Scott was traded to the Dallas Mavericks after a meltdown at a basketball camp during the summer, and Brian Shaw was dealt to the Golden State Warriors.

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