Tim Hardaway
Hall of Fame point guard known for the 'UTEP two-step' crossover, five-time All-Star, and gold medalist—but never a Wizard.
Timothy Duane Hardaway Sr. (born September 1, 1966) is an American former professional basketball player who played in the NBA for the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, and Indiana Pacers. He was a five-time NBA All-Star and five-time All-NBA Team member, won a gold medal with the U.S. national team at the 2000 Summer Olympics, and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022. He is the father of NBA player Tim Hardaway Jr.
- Role
- Point Guard
- Affiliation
- Never played for Washington franchise
- Status
- Retired / Hall of Famer
- Key Achievement
- NBA All-Star Selections (Career)
- Signature Move
- The 'Crossover' dribble
Lore & Background
Hardaway was born in Chicago, Illinois, and graduated from Carver Area High School in 1985; his jersey was retired by the school on August 29, 2022. He played college basketball for the UTEP Miners under coach Don Haskins, winning the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award in 1989. He developed his signature crossover dribble, dubbed the 'UTEP two-step.' He was selected 14th overall in the 1989 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors, where he formed the 'Run TMC' trio with Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin. He was traded to the Miami Heat in the middle of the 1995–96 season, later played for the Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, and Indiana Pacers, retiring in November 2003. He served as an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons from 2014 to 2018.
In Their Own Story
The lights of the MCI Center hummed low as the crowd fell silent, sensing a pivotal moment in the fourth quarter. Hardaway stood at the top of the key, ball gripped firmly, eyes locked on the defender who had been shadowing him all night. With a sudden burst, he executed his signature crossover—left to right, then between the legs, a blur of motion that left the guard stumbling backward. The crowd erupted as he drove into the paint, rising for a layup that swished through the net with seconds remaining. It wasn't just a basket; it was 'The Jet' at his finest, proving once again why Washington loved him.
Reader's Guide
Hardaway never played for the Washington Wizards or Washington Bullets. The source lists his NBA teams as Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, and Indiana Pacers. Any claim of an affiliation with Washington is contradicted by the source.
Did You Know?
- Hardaway averaged a career-high 23.4 points per game in the 1991–92 season.
- He recorded 5,000 points and 2,500 assists faster than any NBA player except Oscar Robertson.
- He shares the NBA record for the worst single-game shooting performance, going 0-for-17 on December 27, 1991.
- He shares the record for second most steals in an NBA playoff game with 8 steals.
- His jersey number 10 was retired by the Miami Heat, not by any Washington team.
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