Despite his brief moment as being one of the most iconic players within the NBA, Penny Hardaway’s legacy is both conflicted and decorated. With his array of talent but deep history of injuries, some have definitive trouble at where to place Penny within the grand scheme of NBA legends. Nonetheless, Penny’s legacy is almost second to none when it comes to kicks as his signature line still reigns supreme in many categories.
With the “Sharpie Pack” gracing retail shelves last week, this week’s edition of Nice Kicks Throwback Thursday features the Nike Air Penny II – a model that has been seen on the likes of LeBron James and many others.
To see for yourself, flip through the pages below to enjoy #TBT.
Penny, Penny, Penny
Upon his arrival into the association, Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway was a high-touted prospect coming out of Memphis State (yes, Memphis STATE). Garnering his nickname from his grandmother’s southern mispronunciation of “pretty,” Penny excelled at the lead guard spot and wowed the Orlando Magic during a pre-draft workout. With Shaquille O’Neal already in place, the Magic would swap Chris Webber for Anfernee Hardaway and the rest would be history.
Averaging a remarkable 16 points per game during his rookie season along with 6 assists and 5 rebounds per outing, Hardaway easily solidified himself as a rising star – subsequently upping his averages in successive years to follow.
