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Former NBA star Penny Hardaway now spends most of his time in the film room, practice and on the sidelines while guiding the Memphis men’s basketball team.
Hardaway, in his eighth year coaching the Tigers, revealed his plans for the upcoming short vacation.
Despite a holiday layoff from Dec. 22 to New Year’s Eve, Hardaway plans to watch 50 college games, saying on his weekly radio show that he prefers the college game to today’s NBA style.
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Memphis Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway watches the Tulane Green Wave during the American Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal game at Dickies Arena in Forth Worth, Texas on March 11, 2023. (Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Hardaway argued that the professional ranks lack an element of fun. “It’s just not fun to watch anymore,” the four-time NBA All-Star said. “It’s just not fun to watch anymore,” the four-time NBA All-Star said.
“It’s like over the years for me it just gets worse and worse. Not in a bad way. But for me to see because I’m in college, I see the basics and play team ball,” he said. “And just shooting all the 3s now is just kind of annoying for me just watching an NBA game. Nobody’s shooting layups anymore. It’s fun to watch for fans.
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“But for guys who were clean in the game, it’s kind of hard.”
Hardaway was the third overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft and second in the end-of-season Rookie of the Year voting. While Hardaway has put the pros on the backburner, there are still a few teams he enjoys watching.
Head coach Penny Hardaway of the Memphis Tigers 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 they play the game the right way,” he said.
“(And) the Celtics, they play the game the right way. And I still enjoy watching the Grizzlies. I still like watching them develop. The Knicks, watching Jalen Brunson. I watching 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 rise of name, image and likeness (NIL) has been widely debated, it has undoubtedly changed the college sports landscape. Hardaway acknowledged the changes in recent years, but still concluded that the style of college hoops is more appealing than what the NBA presents.
“But I’ll take that style over the NBA,” he said.
Hardaway has guided Memphis to three consecutive NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournaments. The Tigers enter Saturday’s visit to Mississippi State with a 4-6 record.
