Penny Hardaway is an American college basketball coach and former professional player.
Penny Hardaway is the head coach of the ‘Memphis Tigers’ men’s basketball team.
Back in the day, he shined at the University of Memphis and got picked 13th in the 1993 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors.
Penny played for teams like the Warriors, Suns, Heat, and Knicks, earning a rep as a top point guard. In 2017, he was honored with a spot in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Here is a great collection of quotes from Penny Hardaway.
Best Penny Hardaway Quotes
It’s just hard to watch isolation basketball. ~ Penny Hardaway.
I want to finish my career on a high note. ~ Penny Hardaway.
For sure, I definitely feel like there’s a target on my back. ~ Penny Hardaway.
I was one of the best players in the NBA. ~ Penny Hardaway.
If I’ve learned anything, it’s that you can’t take anything for granted. ~ Penny Hardaway.
I was blessed to get the contracts I had. ~ Penny Hardaway.
Recruiting is tough because you have to stay in the battle. You’ve got so many guys that are going after a certain amount of kids. ~ Penny Hardaway.
I was an introvert. ~ Penny Hardaway.
I made it real clear I wanted to play in Orlando. Part of it was Shaq. But I also just liked Orlando. It’s not all glitzy and reminds me of Memphis. ~ Penny Hardaway.
I wasn’t trying to make First Team All-NBA. I just wanted to win. ~ Penny Hardaway.
Kobe has a different temperament than me. We’re both competitive, but he was much more outspoken. I would let anything roll off me. Nothing bothered me. I never complained. ~ Penny Hardaway.
When Grant Hill came back to Orlando after having all of his surgeries, I was the first person to call him and congratulate him for making it back. It seemed like nobody cared about what I was dealing with. ~ Penny Hardaway.
There are a lot of people who came out of adverse situations and made it. Use it as motivation. Use it to drive you. ~ Penny Hardaway.
Famous Penny Hardaway Quotes
The college kids are recruiting each other. When they go to a school, they start recruiting each other. ~ Penny Hardaway.
I didn’t care about titles unless they were championship titles. I don’t care about who the man is on the team. ~ Penny Hardaway.
I’m so thankful and blessed for the Heat organization. ~ Penny Hardaway.
I want the opportunity to play pain-free. ~ Penny Hardaway.
I like to speed teams up. I don’t like them to get in their rhythm. ~ Penny Hardaway.
I lived the dream. God blessed me to live the dream. ~ Penny Hardaway.
Orlando is my history. ~ Penny Hardaway.
Top Penny Hardaway Quotes
I feel like I’ve paid attention to all the great coaches who have coached me. ~ Penny Hardaway.
I love basketball, and I didn’t get a chance to finish my career the way I wanted. ~ Penny Hardaway.
Someone takes the challenge with me, I’m going to take it right back. ~ Penny Hardaway.
I’m so appreciative of Orlando. I am Orlando. Orlando made me. So when people link my name, they link my name to Orlando and nowhere else. I’ll always be indebted to Orlando for that and grateful at the same time. ~ Penny Hardaway.
The NBA is my history. ~ Penny Hardaway.
I think what makes a really good shoe is something that you can play ball in but also something that you can wear off the court as well. ~ Penny Hardaway.
For sure, I definitely feel like there’s a target on my back. ~ Penny Hardaway.
I don’t think about the money side. I just think about how I can create a culture of winning. ~ Penny Hardaway.
I want to finish my career on a high note. ~ Penny Hardaway.
I’ve coached grassroots for eight years, I coached middle school, and I coached high school. ~ Penny Hardaway.
Popular Penny Hardaway Quotes
It’s fun coming back home, playing against the Grizzlies and to have the opportunity to come back and see my family. ~ Penny Hardaway.
I want to contribute in any fashion to a great team. ~ Penny Hardaway.
With Shaq, you have to let him know that he’s the man. You have to do that with him. ~ Penny Hardaway.
People who weren’t watching basketball were still fans of Lil Penny. ~ Penny Hardaway.
As an athlete, the body can fail you. I know. The mind and your education will be there to keep carrying you. ~ Penny Hardaway.
It’s amazing to see these young guys come into the league and want to wear my shoes. ~ Penny Hardaway.
Great Penny Hardaway Quotes
If I’ve learned anything, it’s that you can’t take anything for granted. ~ Penny Hardaway.
My microfracture was handled like a routine arthroscopic surgery. They thought it was a 6-to-8 week deal. Now we know, from Amare Stoudemire to Kenyon Martin, that it’s a longer deal. ~ Penny Hardaway.
I want to leave a mark on society. ~ Penny Hardaway.
The thing I really want to do is make the All-Star team and have an All-Star season. If I do that, then I know my team is going to be winning. ~ Penny Hardaway.
It’s just hard to watch isolation basketball. ~ Penny Hardaway.
I am used to the hype because I played in the NBA. ~ Penny Hardaway.
I think it’s a huge compliment from the younger guys understanding what I did for the game and wanting to represent me by wearing my shoes. ~ Penny Hardaway.
I keep myself in shape. I love the game of basketball, and I really feel like it doesn’t matter about your age. ~ Penny Hardaway.
So these were the 47 top Penny Hardaway quotes and sayings.
If you like these quotes and sayings, then you can also read my other posts on Terence Tao quotes and Chloe Kim quotes.
Short Biography of Penny Hardaway
Penny Hardaway, a former NBA star and current Memphis Tigers men’s basketball coach, had a successful 14-season career in the NBA, earning four All-Star titles and two All-NBA First Team honors.
Born in Memphis, he was raised by his grandmother and initially loved football, but switched to basketball to avoid injuries.
| Full Name | Anfernee Deon “Penny” Hardaway |
| Team coached | Memphis Tigers men’s basketball (Head coach, since 2018) |
| School | University of Memphis |
| Born | July 18, 1971 (age 52 years), Memphis, Tennessee, United States |
| High school | Treadwell |
| Children | Jayden Hardaway, LaTanfernee Hardaway, Layla Hardaway |
| Height | 6 ft 7 inch (2.01 m) |
| Weight | 215 lb (98 kg) |
| Parents | Eddie Golden, Fae Hardaway |
| Assists | 3,525 (5.0 apg) |
Penny, a nickname from his grandmother, started with youth sports and played for the Memphis YMCA’s Jr. Olympic team.
Quick Facts about Penny Hardaway
- Penny Hardaway, born July 18, 1971, is a former NBA star and current college basketball coach.
- He coaches the Memphis Tigers men’s team.
- Hardaway played 14 seasons in the NBA.
- He was a four-time NBA All-Star.
- Penny was named to the All-NBA First Team twice.
- He played college basketball at Memphis.
- Penny’s nickname came from his grandmother calling him “Pretty,” which sounded like “Penny.”
- He excelled in basketball during high school in Memphis.
- Hardaway had to sit out his first college season due to academic ineligibility.
- He was shot in the foot during a robbery, putting his career at risk.
- Penny made the Dean’s List after returning from his injury.
- He played for the USA Basketball Developmental Team in 1992.
- Hardaway entered the NBA Draft after his junior year in college.
- Memphis State University retired his jersey number, 25.
- He was drafted by the Golden State Warriors but traded to the Orlando Magic.
- Penny won the MVP award at the Schick Rookie Game.
- He led the Magic to their first playoff berth and a 50-win season.
- Hardaway made his first NBA Finals appearance in the 1994–95 season.
- He suffered a significant knee injury in a 1996 playoff game.
- Penny played on the 1996 US Olympic Basketball Team, winning a gold medal.
- He became the lone star of the Magic after Shaquille O’Neal left.
- Hardaway faced several injuries, affecting his performance.
- He was traded to the Phoenix Suns in 1999.
- Penny struggled with knee injuries during his time with the Suns.
- He played for the New York Knicks and the Miami Heat before retiring.
- Hardaway returned to Memphis as a head coach in 2018.
- He led Memphis to an AAC championship and an NCAA Tournament berth in 2023.
- Penny has made significant contributions to sports in Memphis.
- He has two sons and two daughters, with his sons playing for the University of Memphis.
- Hardaway received his first nomination for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023.
Top Questions about Penny Hardaway
A: Penny Hardaway was born on July 18, 1971.
A: He’s from Memphis, Tennessee.
A: He’s 6 feet 7 inches tall.
A: He went to Treadwell High School in Memphis.
A: He was drafted in 1993.
A: The Golden State Warriors picked him.
A: He played for the United States basketball team in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
A: He was a 4-time NBA All-Star.
A: He played for the Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, and Miami Heat.
A: He began coaching in 2015.
A: Penny Hardaway played in the NBA for 14 years with teams like the Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, and Miami Heat.
A: Penny Hardaway, who’s coaching Memphis, has been nominated for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2024.
A: Penny Hardaway’s net worth is around $70 million.
A: His career ended in 2007.
A: Penny Hardaway and Shaq played together for three seasons on the Orlando Magic, making it to the NBA Finals in 1995 and the Eastern Conference Finals in 1996.
A: He’s the head coach.
A: He was selected to the All-NBA First Team twice.
A: His No. 25 jersey was retired by the Memphis Tigers.
A: He was an assistant coach at East High School.
A: He made the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1994.
College Coaching Highlights
- 2023: NCAA Tournament first round, AAC Tournament championship
- 2022: NCAA Tournament second round, first appearance since 2013-14
- 2021: National Invitation Tournament championship
- Achievements: 8 wins over nationally-ranked teams, nation’s top recruiting class (2019, 2021), 2 NBA first-round draft picks (James Wiseman, Precious Achiuwa), AAC Player of the Year (Precious Achiuwa, 2020), 3 AAC Freshmen of the Year (Achiuwa, Cisse, Duren), top defensive efficiency team (2020-21), best field goal percentage defense (2019-20), national ranking as high as No. 9 (2019-20, 2021-22), 2019 NIT appearance
High School Coaching Highlights
- State titles: 2016, 2017, 2018 with East High School
- 2018: Head coach for East High’s Class AAA state title team.
NBA Playing Highlights
- 14-year career with Orlando, Phoenix, New York, Miami
- Achievements: Over 10,000 points, 3,000 rebounds, 3,500 assists, 4-time NBA All-Star (1995-98), 2-time All-NBA First Team (1995, 1996), 1995 NBA Finalist, NBA All-Rookie Team (1994), No. 3 overall pick in 1993 NBA Draft, 1996 Olympian (Gold medal), Inducted into Orlando Magic Hall of Fame (2017)
College Playing Highlights
- Two seasons at Memphis State (1991-93)
- Achievements: Two-time All-American, Two-time Great Midwest Conference MVP, All-Great Midwest Conference First Team, Great Midwest Conference All-Tournament Team, 1992 NCAA Tournament All-Midwest Regional Team, Two-time NCAA Tournament participant (1992 Elite Eight, 1993 first round), 1,319 points in two seasons, 17 career double-doubles, Two triple-doubles, No. 25 jersey retired (Jan. 23, 1994)
High School Playing Highlights
- Played at Treadwell High School, Memphis
- Achievements: Parade Magazine High School National Player of the Year, Scored over 3,000 points in high school career
