words // Brandon Richard
Later this month, Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway will join Sole Collector at Nike Las Vegas for the launch of his newest Nike signature shoe, the Nike Zoom Rookie LWP. Inspired by two of Penny's pre-signature era sneakers, the Air Go LWP and Air Flight One, the Rookie is a carefully crafted hybrid from the mind of Nike Sportswear's Basketball Design Lead Marc Dolce.
With Sole Collector and Nike Sportswear prepared to launch the Rookie, it's only right that we take a look back at some of the best moment's from Penny's rookie season as a member of the Orlando Magic. After a Draft Day trade sent him to Orlando from the Golden State Warriors, Penny emerged onto the scene as one of the league's most exciting and versatile players right out the gate, He teamed up with a young Shaquille O'Neal to create instant excitement and success in the O-Rena.
The tandem not only led Orlando to their first 50-win season in franchise history, but their first playoff appearance as well. Individually, Penny posted up averages of 16 points, 6.6 assists, 5.4 rebound and 2.3 steals per game. He took home First Team All-Rookie honors and won Rookie of the Month Twice, narrowly and controversially missing out on being named Rookie of the Year.
From his silver screen debut to All Rookie honors, here are Penny Hardaway's Top 10 Rookie Season Moments.
Spring 1993
Penny Films Blue Chips prior to the NBA Draft.
In the ultimate case of foreshadowing, Penny spent part of the spring of 1993 starring as Butch McRae in the film Blue Chips. The movie, which also starred Nick Nolte and future teammate Shaquille O'Neal, told the story of a coach who caved into the increased pressure of cheating the recruitment process to keep up with the nation's top programs. The mother of Penny's character, Butch, is given a job and a new house in exchange for her son's services.
Blue Chips was shot in the Indiana cities of Franklin and French Lick - the home of Larry Bird, who makes a cameo in the film.
June 30, 1993
Draft Day trade sends Penny Hardaway from Golden State Warriors to Orlando Magic in exchange for top overall pick Chris Webber.
Sure, the talent was a little redundant, but an opportunity to pair Shaquille O'Neal with can't-miss prospect Chris Webber was impossible to pass up, right? Wrong. After Shaq and Penny formed a friendship while filming Blue Chips and scouts were impressed with Hardaway's play in workouts with the team, the Magic agreed to ship Webber (who they selected with the Number One overall pick) to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for the rights to Penny and three future first round picks. Not a bad coup for Orlando.
(Those first rounders turned out to be Keon Clark, Laron Profit and Mike Miller, since you were wondering.)
October 1993
Nike signs Penny to multi-year endorsement deal.
After months of wearing Nike product and turning down a lucrative multi-year offer from Converse, Penny officially joined Team Swoosh in October of 1993. The initial deal was reported to be a 5-year contract worth $8 million dollars. With the release of a Penny Nike commercial before Christmas, the deal paid instant dividends for both parties and proved to be a game-changer in the long run.
October 30, 1993
Professional debut at Wembly Arena during the 1993 London Games against the Atlanta Hawks in preseason game.
The NBA's recent trips to O2 Arena in an effort to expand the game globally aren't anything new. Back in October of 1993, the Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks played a pair of games in front of UK fans at Wembly Stadium. The games, which marked Penny Hardaway's league debut, also gave fans an opportunity to see Shaq and Dominique Wilkins play in person.
November 23, 1993
Penny gets upper-hand in first match-up against Webber.
Any time there's a blockbuster trade, the first date people circle on their calendars is the first meeting between the two players that were exchanged. Penny Hardaway and Chris Webber met for the first time on November 23, 1993, and it was Penny who struck the first blow. Hardaway, wearing an Air Jordan IX PE, recorded a stat line of 23 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists in a 120-107 win over the Golden State Warriors. Webber scored just 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
January 26, 1994
Scores season-high 32 points against Charlotte Hornets.
With a pass-first mentality, Penny didn't best Shaq in the point column very often, and again he wouldn't on this night. However, he did score a season-high 32 points on 13-for-20 shooting in a 145-120 win over the Charlotte Hornets. Also, in true Penny fashion, he racked up 9 dimes and 9 boards on the night as well.
February 12, 1994
Named MVP of the Inaugural Schick Rookie Game.
For the first time, the NBA selected the best-performing rookies to compete in a rookie version of the All-Star Game. Held at the Target Center in Minneapolis, the 1994 Schick Rookie Game featured players like Penny, Chris Webber, Jamal Mashburn, Nick Van Exel and Isaiah "J.R." Rider. Penny took home MVP honors with a 22-point performance on 8-of-9 shooting.
April 15, 1994
Records first Triple-Double against Boston Celtics.
As we've seen with players like Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, Grant Hill and LeBron James, Penny was the kind of player that could fill up the three major categories on a NBA stat sheet on a regular basis. In mid-April of 1994, he racked up the first of six career triple-doubles against the Boston Celtics. In the game, Penny scored 14 points, dished out 12 assists and grabbed 11 rebounds.
April 24, 1994
Magic notch first 50-win season in franchise history.
Sure, they had only been a franchise for five years, but a 21-year old Shaq and 22-year old Penny leading Orlando to 50 wins in their first season together was a remarkable feat. The Magic reached the mark in the last regular game of the season, when they beat the New Jersey Nets 120-91.
Spring 1994
Penny named First-Team NBA All-Rookie.
After an outstanding season that started with people questioning whether or not it was worth giving up Chris Webber to get him, Penny was named First-Team NBA All-Rookie. He finished the season with averages of 16 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 2.3 steals per game. The 190 total steals he recorded that season are still a team record.
