Penny Hardaway had sent ripples through the league with his entry itself into the NBA. As a result, Orlando Magic signed a $65 million deal with the first runner-up to 1994 Rookie of the Year. But he could have delayed this for himself had he listened to his Memphis State Tigers’ coach, the late Larry Finch. Appearing on the ‘Let’s Be Clear’ podcast, the 4x All-Star opened up on why his Memphis coach did not want him to go for the NBA draft.

Hardaway recalled telling his coach at the end of his junior year that he had chances of being a lottery pick, so he wanted to go for the draft. “He was like, ‘No, you won’t be lottery. Don’t worry about that.’ Click (call hang up sound). So I called him back, and I was like, coach, ‘No, I’m serious,'” the 4x All-Star recalled on the podcast. He further recollected being called to Larry Finch’s office by him.

The ex-Orlando Magic star told Finch back then he could be the 3rd pick. And although the Memphis Coach later became supportive, he had initially termed the idea to be crazy. “I think he more so wanted me to stay one more year. And I almost did…,” Hardaway said. Notably, the 52-year-old had already missed his freshman season with the Tigers because of his academic performance.

But he made an impressive debut in season 1991-92 averaging 17.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.5 assists. This performance further peaked in his Junior Year with 22.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 2.4 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game. Penny Hardaway even earned himself the Great Midwest Player of the Year title during the 1992 March Madness run.

Although he could lead his team only to the Elite-Eight stage, he was at his peak form back then. So it was only natural for the coach to make one more attempt at the NCAA championship with him. But as destiny would have it, the Warriors selected Hardaway as the 3rd overall pick in the 1993 draft. However, the Warriors traded the ex-Tigers star to Orlando Magic, where he would team up with Shaquille O’Neal.

Penny Hardaway’s start at the NBA and the decline

The 4x All-Star stood as the first runner-up to the Rookie of the Year award and made it to the NBA playoffs in his debut season itself. He delivered an impressive performance of 18.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 7.0 assists against the Pacers. But his partnership with Shaq brought Magic back in the next playoffs even stronger. By this time, Hardaway’s regular season stats witnessed major growth, and he made it to the Finals series in his second season itself.

The 4x All-Star averaged 19.6 points with a 40.04 three-point shooting percentage and 47.2 field goal percentage. Apart from this, he averaged 3.8 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and 7.9 steals. But all these efforts with an inexperienced roster failed against defending champions — Hakeem Olajuwon-led Houston Rockets. Starting from this second season, Penny averaged 20+ points per game for three consecutive seasons. But it was all about to change for the Magic guard because of a knee injury he suffered in the 1996 playoffs.

He underwent 4 surgeries on that knee following the 1997-98 season. The decreasing athleticism started to reflect in Penny Hardaway’s declining stats. The 4x All-Star bid farewell to the game after a last attempt with the Miami Heat, averaging just 3.8 ppg. At present, Hardaway is back to his roots in Memphis as the head coach of the team.

Stay tuned for more such updates. And to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.