Anfernee Hardaway, more commonly known as Penny Hardaway, is a former professional basketball player who played for the Orlando Magic in the NBA. Hardaway was born on July 18, 1971, in Memphis, Tennessee. He played college basketball for the Memphis Tigers and was drafted third overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 1993 NBA Draft. However, he was immediately traded to the Orlando Magic, where he would spend the majority of his career and establish himself as one of the most exciting players in the league. **Hardaway's combination of size, skill, and athleticism made him a versatile player who could play both guard positions. He was known for his flashy style of play, often showcasing his ball-handling and passing abilities.
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After a solid collegiate career at the University of Memphis, for the Orlando Magic, he and Shaquille O Neal composed one of the best guard-big duos in the league. After a solid collegiate career at the University of Memphis, for the Orlando Magic, he and Shaquille O Neal composed one of the best guard-big duos in the league.
He was known for his flashy style of play, often showcasing his ball-handling and passing abilities.** During his time with the Magic, Hardaway formed a dynamic duo with center Shaquille O'Neal. The two players led the team to great success, including an NBA Finals appearance in 1995.
Sports Legend Revealed: Was Penny Hardaway named Anfernee by mistake?
BASKETBALL LEGEND: Anfernee Hardaway was named ‘Anfernee’ by mistake.
Drafted third overall in the 1993 NBA Draft, Anfernee ‘Penny’ Hardaway came over to the Orlando Magic in a blockbuster draft day trade where the Magic traded the #1 overall pick, Chris Webber, to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for the Warriors’ first round pick (Hardaway) and three future first round picks. Teaming up with 1992-93 Rookie of the Year, center Shaquille O’Neal, Hardaway helped to make the Orlando Magic one of the most promising young teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
In 1995, Hardaway made the first of four straight All-Star Game appearances. In addition, in 1995 and 1996, Hardaway was named first team All-NBA. He was named to the third team, All-NBA in 1997, the first season he played without Shaquille O’Neal (who had left the Magic as a free agent to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers). Hardaway’s career was forever altered in the 1997-98 NBA season when he suffered an awful knee injury. After recovering from the knee injury, Hardaway played well in the 1999 strike-shortened season and then forced the Magic to trade him to the Phoenix Suns, where he would play in the backcourt with Jason Kidd. However, in the 2000-01 season Hardaway suffered a second knee injury that effectively robbed him of most of the skills that had made him an All-Star level player. He played another six seasons in the league, but he was essentially a bench player for most of them (barely even that towards the end of his career).
AdvertisementBesides his stellar play early in his career and a series of popular Nike commercials (with comedian Chris Rock voicing a puppet called ‘Lil’ Penny’), Hardaway is perhaps best known for his unusual first name. The origins of the name have become clouded over the years and today it appears that the general consensus is that his name was the result of a mistake on the part of his mother.
This, however, is not the case.
Basically what people seem to believe is that Hardaway’s mother made a mistake and the doctor did not correct her. You see this repeated in a number of places, including a MySpace page for Anfernee Hardaway (written as though it is BY Hardaway himself, but it’s pretty clearly a fan page):
My name is Anfernee Hardaway. I was born on July 18, 1972, in Memphis Tennessee. My name is Anfernee because when I was born, my mother couldn’t pronounce ‘Anthony,’ so when the doctor asked her what my name was, she answered ‘Anfernee.’
In fact, that seems to be the same basic paragraph that many sites repeat about Hardaway:
Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway was born July 18, 1972 in Memphis, Tennessee. Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway got the name Anfernee because his mom couldn’t say Anthony and the doctor wrote down Anfernee when he asked Anfernee’s mother her baby’s name.
First off, Hardaway was born in 1971, not 1972. Secondly, Hardaway’s mother, Fae Hardaway (now I believe she’s Fae Patterson), has always been extremely upfront about her son’s name. The late, great Ralph Wiley, did a feature on Hardaway in 1991 for Sports Illustrated. This was well before Hardaway was the famous player he became now. Heck, he had not yet even played for Memphis State due to problems with his ACT scores (in fact, that was what the article was about). Wiley asked Fae about the name:
AdvertisementWhen I was in school at Lester High, there had been a boy named Anfernee. I always thought it was such a beautiful name. People think I don’t know how to spell Anthony.
The same explanation was later re-told in 1996 for a Vibe profile on Hardaway (by now one of the most famous players in America) by Kevin Powell.
I did some checking and I found, just in Memphis ALONE, two men named Anfernee who would have been teenagers or older in 1970.
So when you add together Fae Hardaway’s explicit recollection, the fact that there WERE people named Anfernee around at the time and the fact that the various explanations for the mistake doesn’t even particularly make sense (she couldn’t say Anthony? What the heck?) and I am very confident in saying that this legend is false. Going past that, it is also a pretty disappointing legend. A name sounds weird? The mother must be a moron who couldn’t spell Anthony! Sheesh.
Thanks to Ralph Wiley and Kevin Powell for their respective pieces and thanks to Fae Patterson for giving us the answer.
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Hardaway's ability to both score and create opportunities for his teammates made him an integral part of the team's offensive strategy. Unfortunately, injuries plagued Hardaway's career, derailing what could have been a long and highly successful tenure in the NBA. He struggled with knee injuries, which limited his playing time and effectiveness on the court. Despite these setbacks, Hardaway remained a beloved figure in the basketball world and continued to inspire fans with his determination and ability. After leaving the Magic, Hardaway had stints with the Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, and Miami Heat. He retired from professional basketball in 2008 and transitioned into coaching and mentoring young players. Hardaway's impact on the game goes beyond his playing career, as he continues to give back to the sport through his involvement in various charitable initiatives. In conclusion, Penny Hardaway was an iconic player for the Orlando Magic and left a lasting impact on the franchise and the NBA as a whole. Despite his career being hampered by injuries, his skills, style, and contributions to the game will always be remembered and appreciated..
Reviews for "The resurgence of Anfernee Hardaway's career after multiple injuries"
1. John - 1 star - I was really disappointed with "Orlando Magic player with the last name Hardaway". I had heard a lot of hype about him, but when I watched him play, he just didn't live up to it. He seemed lazy on the court and lacked the intensity and aggression that I expect from professional athletes. His shooting accuracy was way below par, and his defensive skills were subpar as well. Overall, I found him to be quite underwhelming.
2. Rebecca - 2 stars - As a basketball fan, I had high hopes for "Orlando Magic player with the last name Hardaway". However, after watching him play, I was left unimpressed. He lacked consistency in his performance and often made poor decisions on the court. His dribbling skills were decent, but his shooting accuracy was certainly lacking. I believe there are much better players out there who could bring more to the team and make a bigger impact on the game.
3. Michael - 1 star - I have to say, I was deeply disappointed with "Orlando Magic player with the last name Hardaway". He lacked the agility and quickness that is necessary to succeed in professional basketball. He often appeared out of sync with his teammates and struggled to find his rhythm in games. His ball-handling skills were average at best, and he wasn't able to create scoring opportunities for himself or his teammates. Overall, I don't see him as a valuable asset to the team and think the Orlando Magic should look for better options.
4. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Orlando Magic player with the last name Hardaway", but I couldn't help but feel disappointed. He seemed to lack the overall basketball IQ that is necessary to excel at this level. He frequently made poor decisions on the court and showed a lack of understanding of the game flow. His lackluster shooting and weak defensive skills further contributed to my disappointment. I believe the Orlando Magic should consider exploring other options to strengthen their team.
5. David - 1 star - "Orlando Magic player with the last name Hardaway" did not live up to the expectations I had for him. He appeared sluggish and disinterested during games, lacking the drive and passion that is needed to succeed in professional basketball. His poor shooting percentage, combined with his inability to contribute effectively on the defensive end, made it difficult for me to root for him. Overall, I was left disappointed and believe the Orlando Magic could use a more impactful player.