Athletes - Penny Hardaway

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	Athletes - Penny Hardaway

Anfernee Deon "Penny" Hardaway (born July 18, 1971 in Memphis, Tennessee) is a 6' 7" (2.01 m) professional American basketball player in the NBA playing at small forward/shooting guard. He is currently not on a team, as he was recently waived by the Orlando Magic. He was one of the best point guards of his generation; however, injuries have plagued his career and reduced his effectiveness.

In the past, Hardaway often drew comparisons to former great Magic Johnson, as both players were taller than traditional point guards (Johnson stood at 6' 9"/2.06 m but possessed excellent ball handling and passing skills, trademarks of great point guards).

Early life

Hardaway adopted the nickname "Penny" from his grandmother who used to call him "pretty"; but because of her enunciation, it sounded to him like she was saying "penny" and hence his friends began to call him by that name. He grew up playing basketball in Memphis for Treadwell High School, and committed to Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis).

NBA Career

After two successful years in college, he declared for the 1993 NBA Draft and was selected by the Golden State Warriors in the first round (third pick overall), but was traded to the Orlando Magic for the rights to first overall pick Chris Webber plus three future first-round picks. He immediately made an impact on the league, winning the MVP award of the Schick Rookie Game and was the runner-up for Rookie of the Year. Along with Shaquille O'Neal, he led his team to the NBA Finals in his second season, where they succumbed to the Houston Rockets. Hardaway was named to the 1996 US Olympic Games Basketball Team, which won a gold medal.

He played in the NBA All-Star Game during his first three years in the league and was named to the All-NBA First Team in 1995 and 1996, as well as the All-NBA Third Team in 1997. He and teammate Shaquille O'Neal formed what was at the time considered the most potent outside-inside tandem in the NBA. At about the same time, a popular advertising campaign (by Nike, Inc.) featuring Hardaway made him a household name, and it appeared that he would be one of the top and most visible players in the league for years to come.

A devastating left knee injury, however, incurred early in the 1997-1998 NBA season required surgery and forced him to miss the rest of that season. He was criticized that season for attempting a comeback sooner than expected by playing in the 1998 All-Star Game, where he re-injured his knee badly enough that he was forced to miss most of the rest of the season.

Afterwards, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns for Danny Manning, Pat Garrity and two future first round draft picks. Since then, Hardaway has had continued problems with his left knee, most notably missing most of the 2001 season due to a long recuperation following further surgery on that knee. No longer considered an elite or star player, Hardaway is known best for his notoriously large contract. After a stint with the New York Knicks, he was traded back to Orlando, along with Trevor Ariza, for Steve Francis on February 22, 2006, but was waived by Orlando soon after as expected.

He recently had an interview with John Thompson aired on NBA on TNT on 9 March 2006. Hardaway reflected on his career. His greatest disappointed was not winning an NBA championship after being swept by the Houston Rockets in the NBA Finals. While persistent in his training, Anfernee is currently working in Houston, Texas with John Lucas on his attempt to return to the NBA. From the interview, John Thompson asked if Anfernee Hardaway is a hypochondriac and he blatantly commented that he believed that he will not make a comeback as an NBA player.

Career Awards/Accomplishments

NBA Finals (1995)
MVP - Schick Rookie Game (1994)
NBA Player of the Month (Nov 1995)
All-NBA Rookie Team (1994)
All-NBA First Team (1995, '96)
All-NBA Third Team (1997)
NBA All Star Team (1995, '96, '97, '98)
Gold Medal - USA Men's Basketball (1996 Summer Olympics)

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Athletes - Penny Hardaway

Early life

NBA Career

Career Awards/Accomplishments

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