Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Penny Hardaway

How Penny Hardaway built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway is an American college basketball coach and former NBA player. He currently coaches the Memphis Tigers. As a player, Hardaway starred at Memphis before a 14-year NBA career, primarily with the Orlando Magic. He was a four-time NBA All-Star and three-time All-NBA Team selection. He also played for the Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, and Miami Heat. Hardaway is best known for his exceptional playmaking, scoring ability, and all-around game.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

1992: Improved Performance in Junior Season

In 1992, during his junior season, Penny Hardaway improved his basketball statistics, averaging 22.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 2.4 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game. He was named an All-American and a finalist for the Naismith College Player of the Year and the John R. Wooden Award.

1992: Selection to the USA Basketball Developmental Team

In the summer of 1992, Penny Hardaway was selected to the 1992 USA Basketball Developmental Team, where he scrimmaged against the 1992 Olympic Team.

1993: NBA Draft Entry

In 1993, Penny Hardaway passed up his senior season to enter the NBA Draft.

1993: Drafted and Traded

In 1993, Penny Hardaway was selected by the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the NBA draft (third pick overall) but was traded to the Orlando Magic for Chris Webber.

1994: Franchise Record and NBA Finals

During the 1994-95 NBA season, the Magic won a franchise record 57 games and Penny Hardaway was named a starter in his first NBA All-Star Game and was named All-NBA First Team. He led the team to the NBA Finals, where they were swept by the Houston Rockets.

1995: NBA Player of the Month and All-Star Selection

In 1995, Penny Hardaway was named NBA Player of the Month for November and was selected as an NBA All-Star for the second consecutive season. The Magic achieved a franchise record of 60 wins, and Hardaway was named to the All-NBA First Team for the second year in a row, also finishing third in MVP voting.

1996: Team Leadership and Playoff Performance

During the 1996-97 NBA season, with O'Neal's departure, Penny Hardaway led a coup to fire coach Brian Hill. He had a strong playoff performance, including scoring 42 and 41 points in Games 3 and 4 against the Miami Heat, but the Magic lost in Game 5.

1996: Olympic Gold Medal

During the summer of 1996, Penny Hardaway played on the US Olympic Games Basketball Team, which won a gold medal. He had key contributions in the quarterfinal and gold medal games.

1999: Sign-and-Trade to Phoenix Suns

Before the start of the 1999-2000 NBA season, Penny Hardaway landed in Phoenix via a sign-and-trade with Orlando to team with Jason Kidd, forming BackCourt 2000.

1999: Final Season in Orlando

During the lockout-shortened 1999 season, Penny Hardaway played in all 50 regular-season games, leading the Magic to a share of the best record in the Eastern Conference, but the team lost in the first round to the Philadelphia 76ers. It was his final season in Orlando.

2000: Playoff Performance with Phoenix

In 2000, Penny Hardaway and the Suns finished with a 53-29 record. During the playoffs Hardaway stepped up with a triple-double against the Spurs, but the Suns lost to the Lakers in the Conference Semi-Finals.

2001: Healthy Season with Team Changes

In the 2001-02 NBA season, Penny Hardaway was healthy and played in 80 regular-season games. Jason Kidd and Chris Dudley had been traded for Stephon Marbury, Johnny Newman, and Soumaila Samake. The team also traded for Joe Johnson, which relegated Hardaway to the bench.

2002: Return to Starting Lineup and Playoff Scare

In the 2002-03 NBA season, Penny Hardaway returned to the starting lineup due to Joe Johnson's inconsistent play, contributing to the team's success. He missed 24 games with a hand injury, but returned to record a triple-double on April 9 against the Dallas Mavericks. The Suns lost to the Spurs in the first round of the playoffs.

2003: Lineup Changes

During the 2003–04 NBA season, Penny Hardaway shuffled in and out of the Phoenix Suns starting lineup.

January 6, 2004: Trade to New York Knicks

On January 6, 2004, Penny Hardaway was traded to the New York Knicks along with Stephon Marbury and Cezary Trybański in exchange for Howard Eisley, Maciej Lampe, Charlie Ward, and Antonio McDyess.

2004: Playoffs with the Knicks

In 2004, Penny Hardaway and Stephon Marbury helped lead the Knicks to the 2004 NBA Playoffs, where they lost in the first round to the New Jersey Nets. Hardaway led the Knicks in scoring in two playoff games.

February 22, 2006: Trade Back to Orlando and Subsequent Waiver

On February 22, 2006, Penny Hardaway was traded back to Orlando along with Trevor Ariza, in exchange for Steve Francis. However, just five days later, on February 27, 2006, the Magic waived Hardaway.

August 9, 2007: Signing with the Miami Heat

On August 9, 2007, Penny Hardaway signed with the Miami Heat, reuniting with his former teammate Shaquille O'Neal. He wore jersey number 7, marking the first time in his professional career that he did not wear number 1.

December 12, 2007: Waived by the Miami Heat

On December 12, 2007, Penny Hardaway was waived by the Miami Heat to create a roster spot for free agent Luke Jackson. In 16 regular-season games, he averaged 3.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists.

2010: Revitalizing the Bluff City Classic

In 2010, Penny Hardaway helped revitalize the Bluff City Classic, a summer basketball league providing high-level competition for men and women from college, professional, and elite high school ranks.

2011: Plans for FastBreak Courts Sportsplex

In 2011, Penny Hardaway announced plans for a permanent $20 million multi-sports facility named FastBreak Courts Sportsplex in Cordova. The sporting complex would support volleyball, cheerleading, and wrestling, featuring seven basketball courts, a 2,000-seat arena, rehabilitation clinic, and classrooms.

2011: Coaching at Lester Middle School

In 2011, Penny Hardaway took over as a coach for his middle school alma mater, Lester Middle School, while his friend Desmond Merriweather underwent treatment for colon cancer. He instituted a mandatory tutoring program with the goal of ensuring his players graduated from college. The Lester Lions, coached by Hardaway, finished the season 28-3 and won the West Tennessee State title with a score of 58-57.

2012: Part of Ownership Group for Memphis Grizzlies

In 2012, Penny Hardaway was announced to be part of an ownership group including Peyton Manning and Justin Timberlake that was to purchase a minority stake in the Memphis Grizzlies.

March 19, 2018: Hired as Head Coach of Memphis Tigers

On March 19, 2018, Penny Hardaway was hired as the head coach of his alma mater, the Memphis Tigers, replacing Tubby Smith.

May 17, 2019: Precious Achiuwa Signs with Memphis

On May 17, 2019, Penny Hardaway secured a commitment from Precious Achiuwa, a top-20 five-star recruit, who signed with Memphis.

2023: American Athletic Conference Championship

In 2023, Penny Hardaway led Memphis to an American Athletic Conference championship and a berth in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, where they were eliminated in controversial fashion to FAU.

2024: American Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship

In the 2024-2025 season, Penny Hardaway led Memphis to an outright American Athletic Conference regular season championship with a conference record of 16-2.