People didn't want to accept that I was injured. I played on a bad knee, a really bad knee, for a long time. I actually put team before me and played when I was hurt, but people still would dog me.
— Penny Hardaway
I can scream and yell that I can still play, but unless I prove it, people will say, 'Yeah, Penny, whatever.'
Personally, I just want to stay healthy.
A lot of the kids gave a lot of positive feedback about if I ever became a coach, they would love to play in our program. And I was very confident that we would be able to get the top-tier players to come in.
I want to finish my career on a high note.
Basketball gave me an avenue to live my dream, and I just want to help other kids live their dreams through me.
Orlando is my history.
I wore No. 25 in college, so naturally when I arrived in Orlando, I wanted that number, but Nick Anderson had it. I decided to go with No. 1 because of my name, Penny.
I wasn't able to explode, jump, run - not even walk without pain being in the back of my leg. Every time I bent my leg, even in a walking motion, I was wondering what was wrong with me. But I stuck with it.
Jerry Sloan was a guy that I always respected, but I thought he was mean. Like, he was a guy that was just no nonsense. When coach and I got closer during the Olympics, I said, 'Coach, I always just thought you were this mean guy, but it was really nice to get to know you and your family.'
You wanted to compete against Michael Jordan, because they were the best. You wanted to beat them. Never once in my mind, I went, 'I would love to play with him.' I was always like, 'Man, we've got to beat them.'
I can pass on a lot of information. I'm just never going to be the 21-year-old Penny Hardaway again.
Injuries made people lose confidence in me, but I never lost confidence in myself.
I just want to win.
People think I'm soft and bailed out on basketball. But it was five knee surgeries.
I feel like I can play point guard for any team in the league and average a double-double.
I want to leave a mark on society.
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.
It's fun coming back home, playing against the Grizzlies and to have the opportunity to come back and see my family.
I'm so thankful and blessed for the Heat organization.
It's just hard to watch isolation basketball.
Of course you want people to notice you're back, and you're playing well just to be respected. Because I was an All-Star, a first-team All-NBA guy. But I don't need the media putting a spotlight on me.
If I've learned anything, it's that you can't take anything for granted.
With Shaq, you have to let him know that he's the man. You have to do that with him.
I want the opportunity to play pain-free.
I was as popular as you can be - All-NBA, Olympian. You couldn't get any higher than where I was.
My brain never stops thinking about basketball, and even when I'm asleep, I'm thinking about basketball. I love it; I love the Xs and Os and the preparation of it.
It's a huge honor to be put in the Hall of Fame... it's even better because I played there for six years, and I left on bad terms. To be able to come back and be recognized - in hindsight, I wish I would have stayed, because everyone understands my career was large in Orlando.
When you accomplish certain levels of success in a number, you want that number to always be a part of you. In a way, you're bringing that success with you when you're wearing it.
That's my job as a veteran in the league - to help make the young guys better.
I want to contribute in any fashion to a great team.
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.
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.
