On The Brink: For A Moment, Penny Hardaway Was Magic

ON THE BRINK is a series of articles on NBA players who appeared destined for superstardom, only to run into injuries that derailed their ascent. Despite the unfortunate turn of events, these players deserve to be recognized for their finest moments.

The term “matchup-nightmare” evokes images of a player who owns a physical edge over other competitors in the same position. Matchup nightmares tend to be bigger, faster, or more skilled than their contemporaries.

In the 90s, Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway fit this term to a tee. At 6-foot-7, he towered over many point guards of his time. When opposing coaches tried to put bigger defenders on him, Hardaway would showcase his impressive speed and get to the rim with effortless grace.

Hardaway was a warrior, just not on draft night. The former Memphis Tiger was selected third overall in the 1993 NBA Draft and was promptly traded to the Orlando Magic in a deal that sent top pick Chris Webber to the Golden State Warriors.

This allowed the Magic to form a freakishly talented pair that consisted of Hardaway and Shaquille O’Neal, the previous year’s number-one selection. The tandem unleashed by the Magic was an exciting partnership between two youngsters who were only beginning to find themselves in the NBA. Thanks to the inside-out combination of Hardaway and O’Neal, the Magic became a winning franchise that eventually booked a trip to the 1994 NBA Finals.

In the mid-90s, when Michael Jordan decided to take a hiatus from basketball, Hardaway gave NBA fans a fresh treat to enjoy on television. On the offensive end, he dazzled with his impressive assists and athletic finishes. As a defender, he relentlessly invaded his opponents’ space and grabbed his fair share of steals.

Then, the injuries struck.

As the decade came to a close, Hardaway sustained a major knee injury on more than one occasion. The explosiveness that used to come effortlessly for him was greatly curtailed as a result, thus limiting his arsenal on both ends of the floor. After his stint in Orlando came to an end, Hardaway played for three more NBA teams, but because his knees had been compromised, his numbers dwindled, and his reputation became less than feared.

In each of the last five seasons of his career, Hardaway failed to log at least 50 games. The wear-and-tear on his body was palpable, and he was light-years away from the athlete he once was.

Be that as it may, no one can ever take away the accolades reaped by Hardaway when he was at the peak of his powers. This list includes a spot in the 1994 All-Rookie First Team, four selections as an All-Star, and three appearances on the All-NBA Team.

No MVP awards or championships ever came his way. But the highlight reels and history books will show that, for a moment, Penny Hardaway was magic.