Kenny Smith
Photo: Desiree Navarro/WireImage

Kenny Smith took to First Take to air out his thoughts on the Chicago Bulls losing to the Orlando Magic in the 1995 Eastern Conference SemiFinals. The Houston Rockets were eventually able to sweep the Magic in the Finals.

That season, Michael Jordan came out of retirement. He was able to lead the Bulls past the Charlotte Hornets in four games in the first round, but the Shaquille O’ Neal-led Magic were too much to handle in the second round. Kenny Smith says size was the issue.

“They were just too small,” Smith said about the Bulls. “That’s why they lost to the Orlando Magic. That team that they lost to 4-2, we swept. It wasn’t Jordan wasn’t the best player. That wasn’t the best team.”

O’ Neal was young then, but still dominant. His size created matchup problems in the series just like the rest of his four championship career. The Bulls went on to win three straight championships for a total of six in the nineties. The young Shaquille O’Neal was able to get the better of them that series though.