Former Orlando Magic star Penny Hardaway has been itching to make an NBA comeback this season and I can’t help but hope that his dream comes true. Who are we to tell the man to sit back, sip on a beer, devour the Pringles and reminisce about the good ole’ days? Not me, folks - how I miss those “Lil’ Penny” commercials!
Do you remember how undeniably great this guy was in his prime? If you need a reminder please watch a video HERE.
I realize this isn’t huge, earth-shattering news - the man is 39, hasn’t played since 2006 and unlike when Jordan un-retired in 2001 Hardaway would not even start, which he completely understands judging by recent comments to the Boston Globe.
Here’s what Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway recently told the Globe:
“I still love the game and I feel like I deserve that chance, but at 39, everybody’s looking at the age,’’ he said. “They’re not looking at it as if I can still play.
I don’t have a lot of miles on my body because my knee was hurt for so long. But I feel like I can play a minimal role on anybody’s team and help out. Role players now are playing 10-12 minutes a night. That’s simple, man.
*** My knowledge, my playmaking ability, I can still knock down an open shot. I watch the game and still see things out there I can do to help teams, but who knows if that will ever happen? I doubt it, but I’ll be ready if the situation did occur.”***
I know he sounds like an old geezer looking for one last stand in the limelight, but I don’t think that’s the case here. He insists his knees are healthy these days and sounds like he just wants to play ball with the best before he no longer has the chance or skill level.
Hey, if a team will have you and you’re sincerely fit to play I hope you get your chance. It’s not every day that a human being owns the ability to play in the best league in the world and if you’ve still got it, by all means make it happen.
I might be slightly biased as I have incredibly fond memories of Penny Hardaway from my youth - I collected all of his rookie cards, watched the infamous doll commercials over and over, and rooted for Orlando to defeat the Bulls during the 1995 NBA Playoffs. He was an unbelievably special talent whose career was derailed by injury and when healthy lacked the help to compete for a title after the defection of Shaq to the Lakers in 1996.
Penny was the Magic Johnson-type player who closely resembled the Lakers legend I never watched live - the answer to our (we thought) post-Jordan NBA prayers. After averaging sixteen points, 6.6 assists, and 5.4 rebounds during his rookie season along with 190 steals, he became one of my favorite players to follow via national telecasts as his heyday transpired before the widespread internet phenomenon. While he didn’t always handle the post-Shaq days in Orlando very well - the firing of Brian Hill, anyone? - to have the best years of your career ripped away from you to injury when you could’ve been an all-time great? Probably a very big bummer.
I’ve read other blog posts and columnists rip into Hardaway’s recent comments claiming he would be tarnishing his legacy by coming back. I say keep your traps shut, to put it kindly. I felt that way when Jordan decided to scratch that itch in 2001 and I’m supporting Hardaway all the way.
Hardaway owes it to himself, if another team bites and he can still ball, to play the game he loves at the highest level one more time if he so desires without looking in the rearview mirror. Why regret it twenty years from now if the opportunity presented itself? What is the big deal if this whole thing fails? It wouldn’t be.
I know Hardaway making a return trip to the NBA isn’t just his decision - a team out there has to view him as a quality, selfless teammate who won’t beg for starter minutes (Iverson, McGrady) and accept the veteran’s minimum, which he seems willing to do. I’ve been wrong before but Hardaway sounds humbled and just looking for a more graceful ending to his career.
If you’ve seen “Rocky Balboa” and remember the line after Rocky’s fight with Mason Dixon where Balboa utters to Paulie “The beast is gone now.” you can probably understand what Hardaway is feeling. If he has that beast inside of him that NEEDS one last shot at the league then go for it, buddy.
Don’t listen to the critics, Penny. I hope a team gives you a shot.