The 1998 Magic team was hailed as one of the NBL's best ever teams after going 26–4 through the regular season and easily sweeping the Brisbane Bullets in their Semi-final series, but were swept 2–0 by the 36ers in a stunning capitulation. The 1998 Magic team was loaded with talent, including Australian Boomers players John Dorge, Brett Wheeler, Tony Ronaldson and Sam Mackinnon as well as captain Jason Smith, Frank Drmic and the NBL's 1998 Best Defensive Player Award winner Mike Kelly. Also on that team was Billy Mccaffrey. The Magic lost Game 1 100–93 in Adelaide before being mauled 90–62 in Game 2 at the Tennis Centre. While the Magic under Goorjian were seen as the best team in the NBL at the time, it must be said that the 36ers were also a very talented team, boasting former NBL MVP and Grand Final MVP Mark Davis, former Perth championship forward Martin Cattalini, North Melbourne Giants 1994 Grand Final MVP Paul Rees, former Denver Nuggets NBA players Darnell Mee and Kevin Brooks, team captain and Aussie Boomers point guard Brett Maher as well as two time NBL championship winner (ironically winning one each with both the 36ers (1986) and Magic (1992)) Scott Ninnis.