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Former NBA star Penny Hardaway now spends most of her time in the film room, practice and on the bench while guiding the Memphis men’s basketball team.
Hardaway, in his eighth year as Tigers coach, revealed his plans for the upcoming short break.
Despite a holiday break from Dec. 22 through New Year’s Eve, Hardaway plans to watch 50 college games and said on his weekly radio show that he prefers the college game to the current NBA style.
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Memphis Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway looks on against the Tulane Green Wave during the American Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal game at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 11, 2023. (Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Hardaway argued that professionals lack an element of fun. “It’s not fun to watch anymore,” the four-time NBA All-Star said. “It’s not fun to watch anymore,” the four-time NBA All-Star said.
“It’s like, over the years, for me, things are getting worse and worse. Not in a bad way. But for me, watching it, because I’m in college, I see the fundamentals and the team play,” he said. “And just shooting all the 3s now is a little irritating to me just watching an NBA game. Nobody shoots layups anymore. It’s fun for the fans to watch.
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“But for the guys who were pure in the game, it’s a little difficult.”
Hardaway was the third overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft and the second overall pick in that season’s Rookie of the Year voting. While Hardaway has put the pros on the back burner, there are still some teams he likes to watch.
Memphis Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway reacts during the second half against the Houston Cougars at FedExForum on March 5, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Justin Ford/Getty Images)
“I love watching (the Oklahoma City Thunder), not because they’re the best team in the NBA, but because they play the right way,” he said.
“(And the) Celtics play the game the right way. And I still enjoy watching the Grizzlies. I still like watching them progress. The Knicks, watching Jalen Brunson. I watch Minnesota with Anthony Edwards.”
Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway (1) of the Phoenix Suns during the NBA game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on January 5, 2003 in Los Angeles, California. (Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
While the advent of name, image and likeness (NIL) has been widely debated, it has undoubtedly changed the landscape of college sports. Hardaway acknowledged the changes in recent years, but still concluded that the style of college basketball is more attractive than that presented by the NBA.
“But I’ll adopt that style in the NBA,” he said.
Hardaway has guided Memphis to three consecutive NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament appearances. The Tigers enter Saturday’s visit to Mississippi State with a 4-6 record.
