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Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway was drafted by the Golden State Warriors  – with the 3rd overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft – and was traded to the Orlando Magic on a draft night trade.  Penny left Memphis State after his junior season in which he averaged 22.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 6.4 assists. 2.4 steals and 1.2 blocks.  Penny made immediate strides with the Orlando Magic his Rookie season. He was the MVP of the inaugural Rookie Game, which is now the Rookie/Sophomore game. He and Shaquille O’Neal helped lead the Magic to their first 50-win season and to their first playoff berth.  He averaged 16 points, 6.6 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 2.3 steals a game as Rookie and made the 1993-94 NBA All-Rookie First Team.  Penny’s popularity grew in the NBA with his signature Air Penny shoes and with the Nike commercials the Lil’ Penny doll (Voice of Chris Rock).

 

Penny was selected to his first All-Star game as a starter and to the All-NBA First Team in his second year, in which he averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.7 steals.  The Magic went on to win a franchise record 57 games. Also, the Magic made their first NBA Finals appearance in which they were swept by the Houston Rockets.  Hardaway did average 24.5 points, 8 assists and 4.8 rebounds in the NBA Finals.  His third season, the Magic won a franchise 60 games. He was selected to his second All-Star Game as a starter and was selected to his second All-NBA First Team.  The Magic lost to the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals (who went on to become NBA Champions).  That summer, Free Agent Center Shaquille O’Neal joined the Los Angeles Lakers and Penny became the Star of the Magic.  The next season the Magic lost in the first round to the Miami Heat 3-2. Penny did score 42 and 41 points in back to back elimination games, showing signs that he was a top-five player in the league.

 

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During the 1997-98 season, Penny suffered a devastating knee injury. He returned the next season and played the whole season for the Magic. He was eventually traded to the Phoenix Suns in the Summer of 1999.  His first season with the Suns, he averaged 16.9 points, a career-high 5.8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists. After his first season with Phoenix, Hardaway never averaged more than 12 points in his career.  Penny was traded to the New York Knicks during the 2003-04 season and only appeared in 83 games in 2 ½ seasons with the Knicks.  Penny was traded back to the Magic in 2006 and was waived for salary cap reasons.  He was signed by the Heat as a Free Agent. He appeared in 16 games – starting in 8 of those – and was eventually cut to never played another game in the NBA.

 

Penny wasn’t your average Point Guard. He was 6’7 with quickness, speed, and could create his own shot  – and could take over a game when his team needed him too.  He could shoot, score, pass, rebound, steal and wasn’t a bad 3-point shooter.  If Penny stayed healthy, I truly believe he would have been one of the NBA’s 50 Greatest players.  Before his first major injury with the Magic, Penny averaged 19.8 points, 6.6 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.9 steals in his first four seasons for the Magic.  Hardaway was selected to four All-Star Games from 1995-98 and he was selected to the 1996-97 All-NBA Third Team.

 

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Penny also finished in the Top 10 in steals three seasons in his career.  He was a member of the 1996 USA Olympic Basketball Team that won a gold medal and Hardaway averaged 9 points, 4.4 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals a game during the Olympics.  Hardaway’s Nike Foamposites and his Nike Signature shoes are still popular in today’s shoe game and he is still one of the best players in Magic history.  He is currently coaching at Lester Middle School as the boys’ basketball coach. Penny attended the same middle school.