Penny Hardaway

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Hardaway is the son of Fae Hardaway (born 1951) and Eddie Golden. His nickname came from his grandmother calling him "Pretty" with a southern drawl, sounding like "Penny". He wore #1 because a penny is worth one cent. He was raised in the Binghampton neighborhood of Memphis. As a teenager, he refereed youth sports at the Memphis YMCA and played on its Jr. Olympic basketball team. At Memphis State University, he sat out the 1990–91 season due to being academically ineligible under Proposition 48. While sitting out, he was shot in the foot by a stray bullet during a robbery outside his cousin's house. He later made the Dean's List. He was selected to the 1992 USA Basketball Developmental Team. He achieved a 3.4 cumulative GPA and graduated in May 2003 with a bachelor's degree in professional studies.

In Their Own Story

The defining moments of Hardaway's career occurred far from the Grizzlies' relocation timeline. Selected third overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 1993 NBA Draft, he was immediately traded to the Orlando Magic for Chris Webber. He formed a legendary duo with Shaquille O'Neal, leading the Magic to their first 50-win season and an NBA Finals appearance in 1995. Hardaway earned four All-Star selections and three All-NBA Team nods during his time in Orlando. His career faced significant setbacks due to knee injuries; he admitted a serious injury sustained against Detroit in 1996 robbed him of explosiveness, leading to surgeries that limited his playing time in subsequent years. He later played for the Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, and Miami Heat before retiring from professional play.

Reader's Guide

Hardaway was selected by the Golden State Warriors with the third overall pick in the 1993 NBA draft and traded to the Orlando Magic for the rights to Chris Webber. He signed a 13-year, $65 million contract with an escape clause after his rookie season. He won MVP at the inaugural Schick Rookie Game and was named to the NBA All-Rookie first team. In the 1994–95 season, he was named a starter in his first NBA All-Star Game and was named All-NBA First Team, leading the Magic to the NBA Finals where they were swept by the Houston Rockets. He was named All-NBA First Team again in 1995–96 and finished third in MVP voting. In 1996–97, he was named to the All-NBA Third Team. He played on the 1996 US Olympic team that won a gold medal. He also played for the Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks and Miami Heat.

Did You Know?

• Hardaway averaged 36.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 3.9 steals, and 2.8 blocks as a senior at Treadwell High School and was named Parade Magazine National High School player of the year.
• He took the ACT five times with a maximum score of 17.2; 17.5 was required to be eligible to play in college.
• Hardaway's jersey number 25 was retired by Memphis State in 1994.
• He recorded his first career triple double on April 15, 1994, with 14 points, 12 assists, and 11 rebounds against the Boston Celtics.
• In the 1997 playoffs, he became the first player in NBA history to score 40 points in back-to-back playoff games when his team scored less than 100.