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Much like Derrick Rose, there are a lot of "what ifs" when talking about Hardaway's career. It seems almost ridiculous to think it now, but he was the heir apparent to Jordan after the GOAT retired to play minor league baseball. Here's how Hardaway was described by Sports Illustrated in 1995.
Quote:
IF SCIENTISTS were to gather in a laboratory somewhere to build the prototype for the 21st-century basketball player, they would make him big enough to battle forwards and centers, yet quick enough to run with point guards. They would make him unselfish enough to find his teammates with dazzling passes, yet daring enough to slash to the basket for breathtaking dunks. They would make him bright-eyed and childlike enough to inspire a catchy nickname, yet dashing enough to appear on movie screens. They would make him, in short, Orlando Magic guard Anfernee (Penny) Hardaway.''Watching Penny Hardaway play is like gazing into a crystal ball, like watching the game evolve before your very eyes,'' says Indiana Pacer coach Larry Brown. ''Maybe someday it won't be so rare to see players with as wide a range of skills as he has. I just hope I'm around to see it.'
I got to see him live in his prime once (1995?), he had the crowd ooing and awwing the whole time.
What I took away from watching him was how well he handled the Basketball, he could fool even the best defenders with his twists and turns all the while dribbling in stride. Had some hops too.
Those mid-90s Magic teams for how brief their run lasted were fun to watch.
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