Many basketball fans have wondered if Penny Hardaway and Tim Hardaway are related, given their similar last names and their careers in the NBA. The answer is no, they are not related. Penny Hardaway is the name of a retired basketball player and current college coach, while Tim Hardaway is the name of a former basketball player and the father of Tim Hardaway Jr., who plays for the Dallas Mavericks.
Who is Penny Hardaway?
Penny Hardaway, whose real name is Anfernee Deon Hardaway, was born on July 18, 1971, in Memphis, Tennessee. He grew up playing basketball for Treadwell High School, where he averaged 36.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 3.9 steals, and 2.8 blocks as a senior and was named Parade Magazine National High School player of the year. He finished his high school career with 3,039 points.
He played college basketball at Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis), where he had to sit out his freshman year due to academic ineligibility. He became a star in his sophomore and junior years, leading the Tigers to two NCAA tournament appearances and earning consensus first-team All-American honors in 1993. He also won the Great Midwest Player of the Year award twice.
He entered the 1993 NBA draft and was selected by the Golden State Warriors with the third overall pick. However, he was traded to the Orlando Magic on draft night in exchange for Chris Webber. He teamed up with Shaquille O’Neal to form one of the most dynamic duos in the league, leading the Magic to two Eastern Conference finals and one NBA finals appearance in 1995.
He was a four-time NBA All-Star and a two-time All-NBA First Team member. He was also known for his signature Nike shoes, which featured a puppet character named Lil Penny voiced by Chris Rock in the commercials.
However, his career was hampered by injuries, especially to his knees. He played for the Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, and Miami Heat after leaving the Magic in 1999. He retired from the NBA in 2007 with career averages of 17.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 6 assists per game.
He became a high school coach at East High School in Memphis in 2015 and led them to three consecutive state championships. In 2018, he was hired as the head coach of his alma mater, Memphis Tigers. He has recruited some of the top prospects in the nation, such as James Wiseman and Jalen Duren. He also won the NIT championship in 2021 and the AAC tournament championship in 2023.
Who is Tim Hardaway?
Tim Hardaway, whose full name is Timothy Duane Hardaway Sr., was born on September 1, 1966, in Chicago, Illinois. He played basketball for Carver Area High School, where he led his team to a city championship in 1984. He played college basketball at UTEP (University of Texas at El Paso), where he was coached by Don Haskins. He became known for his crossover dribble move, which he called the “UTEP Two-step”.
He entered the 1989 NBA draft and was selected by the Golden State Warriors with the 14th overall pick. He formed part of the “Run TMC” trio with Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin, which was one of the most explosive offensive teams in the league. He averaged 22.9 points and 10.6 assists per game in his third season and made his first All-Star appearance.
He was traded to the Miami Heat in 1996 and became their franchise player alongside Alonzo Mourning. He led the Heat to four Atlantic Division titles and three Eastern Conference finals appearances. He was a five-time NBA All-Star and a one-time All-NBA First Team member.
He also played for the Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, and Indiana Pacers before retiring from the NBA in 2003 with career averages of 17.7 points and 8.2 assists per game.
He is currently an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons under Dwane Casey. He is also the father of Tim Hardaway Jr., who plays for the Dallas Mavericks alongside Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis. Tim Hardaway Jr., who was born on March 16, 1992, played college basketball at Michigan and was drafted by the New York Knicks with the 24th overall pick in 2013.
Conclusion
Penny Hardaway and Tim Hardaway are not related by blood or marriage. They are both former NBA stars who played in different eras and teams. They have different backgrounds and styles of play. They are both respected and admired by basketball fans and peers for their achievements and contributions to the game. They are both involved in coaching and mentoring the next generation of basketball players. They are both legends in their own right.
