Penny Hardaway
The four-time All-Star who helped lead the Magic to their first NBA Finals.
Anfernee 'Penny' Hardaway was selected by the Orlando Magic with the first overall pick in the 1993 NBA draft, but was immediately traded to the Golden State Warriors for the rights to Chris Webber (selected third) along with three future first-round picks. He signed a massive 13-year, $40 million contract containing an escape clause after his third season. Starting initially at shooting guard, he took over point guard duties from veteran Scott Skiles by mid-season. His impact was immediate: he won MVP of the inaugural Rookie Game, led the Magic to their first playoff berth and 50-win season, and earned NBA All-Rookie first team honors while finishing as the runner-up for Rookie of the Year. In his second season alone, he averaged 20.9 points and guided Orlando to a franchise-record 57 wins and an NBA Finals appearance.
- draft_year
- 1993
- draft_pick
- third pick overall
- jersey_number
- 1
- all_star_selections_magic
- 4
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Hardaway's time in Orlando was defined by his ability to elevate the team alongside Shaquille O'Neal. After the 1995-96 season, he exercised his contract escape clause before re-signing for a staggering 7-year, $70 million deal with an option after five years. That same season, he earned an All-NBA First Team selection while leading the franchise to its first NBA Finals, where they were swept by Houston despite his 25.5 points per game average. When O'Neal departed for Los Angeles in 1996, Hardaway stood alone as the franchise player. He led a mid-season coup to fire coach Brian Hill and delivered legendary playoff performances against Miami, scoring 42 points in Game 3 and 41 in Game 4 to force a decisive Game 5—a historic feat for back-to-back 40-point games when his team scored under 100. His 1996 Olympic gold medal run further cemented his status as a global star.
In Their Own Story
The 1997 playoffs against the Miami Heat remain etched in Magic history. Facing elimination after dropping the first two games, Hardaway erupted for 42 points in Game 3 and followed with 41 points in Game 4 to force a Game 5 in Miami. He became the first player in NBA history to score 40 or more points in consecutive playoff games while his team scored fewer than 100 points per game. Although Orlando eventually fell, Hardaway averaged 31 points for that series, finishing just behind Michael Jordan's scoring average. Earlier in his career, a devastating knee injury sustained during the 1996 playoffs against Detroit—where Joe Dumars hit him in the back of the knee—robbed him of his explosiveness after he played through the pain and underwent off-season surgery. Despite this, he was voted as an All-Star starter for four consecutive years from 1995 to 1998.
Reader's Guide
Anfernee Hardaway's Orlando career spanned from 1993 to 1999, marked by four All-Star selections and three All-NBA Team honors. He was the centerpiece of the 'Shaq and Penny' era that turned the Magic into a perennial contender. In his rookie year (1993–94), he averaged 16 points, 6.6 assists, and 5.4 rebounds while ranking sixth in the league with 190 steals. By the 1995–96 season, he led the Magic to a franchise-record 60 wins, averaging 21.7 points, 7.1 assists, and finishing third in MVP voting. He was one of only two players that year to average at least 20 points and five assists while shooting 50% from the field. His jersey number 25 was retired by Memphis State (now University of Memphis) in 1994, though he wore #1 with Orlando because a penny is worth one cent. Hardaway returned to his alma mater in May 2003 to earn a bachelor's degree ten years after leaving early for the draft.
Did You Know?
- Hardaway's nickname 'Penny' came from his grandmother calling him 'Pretty' with a southern drawl.
- He wore #1 on his jersey specifically because a penny is worth one cent.
- In the 1997 playoffs, he became the first player in NBA history to score 40 points in back-to-back games when his team scored less than 100.
- Hardaway was academically ineligible for the 1990–91 season, having a maximum ACT score of 17.2 when 17.5 was required.
- While sitting out college due to eligibility issues, he was shot in the foot by a stray bullet during a robbery at his cousin's house.