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Anfernee Deon "Penny" Hardaway (born July 18 , 1971 in Memphis, Tennessee ) is a 6' 7" (2.01 m) professional American Basketball player in the NBA playing at Small Forward / Shooting Guard . He is currently not on a team, as he was recently waived by the Orlando Magic . He was one of the best point guards of his generation; however, injuries have plagued his career and reduced his effectiveness. Hardaway's play often times dazzled the home crowds and awed opposing team's fans on the road with his superb court vision coupled with a consistent scoring ability. His most productive years came in his days as a member of the Orlando Magic as well as the early portion of his stint with the Phoenix Suns. In the past, Hardaway often drew comparisons to former great Magic Johnson , as both players were taller than traditional Point Guard s (Johnson stood at 6' 9"/2.06 m but possessed excellent ball handling and passing skills, trademarks of great point guards). Hardaway also caught comparisons to Michael Jordan in 1996 from some basketball media analysts. EARLY LIFE Hardaway adopted the nickname "Penny" from his grandmother who used to say that Anfernee was "pretty as a penny" and hence his friends began to call him by that name. He grew up playing basketball in Memphis for Treadwell High School , and committed to Memphis State University (known as the University of Memphis since 1994). In his first year of college basketball Hardaway was listed ineligable to play due to poor academic performance. However, he would suit up and play the next two seasons for Memphis before entering the NBA draft. NBA CAREER After two successful years in college, he declared for the 1993 NBA Draft and was selected by the Golden State Warriors in the first round (third pick overall), but was traded to the Orlando Magic for the rights to first overall pick Chris Webber plus three future first-round picks. He immediately made an impact on the league, winning the MVP award of the Schick Rookie Game and was the runner-up for Rookie Of The Year . Along with Shaquille O'Neal , he led his team to the NBA Finals in his second season, where they succumbed to the Houston Rockets . Hardaway was named to the 1996 US Olympic Games Basketball Team , which won a gold medal. He played in the NBA All-Star Game during his first three years in the league and was named to the All-NBA First Team in 1995 and 1996 , as well as the All-NBA Third Team in 1997 . He and teammate Shaquille O'Neal formed what was at the time considered the most potent outside-inside tandem in the NBA . At about the same time, a popular advertising campaign (by Nike, Inc. ) featuring Hardaway made him a household name, and it appeared that he would be one of the top and most visible players in the league for years to come. A devastating left knee injury, however, incurred early in the 1997- 1998 NBA season required surgery and forced him to miss the rest of that season. He was criticized that season for attempting a comeback sooner than expected by playing in the 1998 All-Star Game, where he re-injured his knee badly enough that he was forced to miss most of the rest of the season (Hardaway has since endured another four surgeries on his left knee up to the present that have gradually deteriorated his explosive athletic abilities.) Afterwards, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns for Danny Manning , Pat Garrity and two future first round draft picks. In his first season on arrival in Phoenix, Hardaway would help lead the Suns past defending champion San Antonio in the First Round of the 1999-2000 NBA playoffs but shortly after fall to the soon to be crowned NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers in the Semi-Finals. Since then, Hardaway has had continued problems with his left knee, most notably missing most of the 2001 Season due to a long recuperation following further surgery on that knee. No longer considered an elite or star player, Hardaway is known best for his notoriously large contract. After a stint with the New York Knicks, he was traded back to Orlando, along with Trevor Ariza, for Steve Francis on February 22 , 2006 , but was waived by Orlando soon after, as expected. Hardaway's greatest disappointment was not winning an NBA championship after being swept by the Houston Rockets in the 1995 NBA Finals . While persistent in his training, Anfernee is currently working in Houston, Texas with John Lucas on his attempt to return to the NBA. Career awards/accomplishments
REFERENCES John Thompson interview, '' NBA On TNT '' March 9, 2006 EXTERNAL LINKS
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