Penny Hardaway blasts fashionable NBA, argues faculty sport is performed ‘the best means’

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Former NBA star Penny Hardaway now devotes most of his time to the movie room, follow and the sideline whereas guiding the Memphis males’s basketball group.

Hardaway, in his eighth yr teaching the Tigers, revealed his plans for the upcoming temporary vacation break.

Regardless of a vacation layoff from Dec. 22 by way of New 12 months's Eve, Hardaway plans to look at 50 faculty video games, saying on his weekly radio present that he prefers the college game over at this time's NBA fashion.

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Memphis Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway appears on in opposition to the Tulane Inexperienced Wave in the course of the semifinal sport of the American Athletic Convention Event on the Dickies Enviornment in Forth Value, Texas on March 11, 2023. (Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos)

Hardaway argued the skilled ranks lack a component of enjoyable. "It’s simply not enjoyable to look at anymore," the four-time NBA All-Star mentioned. "It’s simply not enjoyable to look at anymore," the four-time NBA All-Star mentioned.

"It’s like, through the years, to me, it’s simply getting worse and worse. Not in a nasty means. However for me to look at, as a result of I’m in faculty, I see the basics and taking part in group ball," he mentioned. "And simply capturing all of the 3s now could be just a bit irritating to me to simply watch an NBA sport. Nobody shoots layups anymore. It’s enjoyable to look at for followers.

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"However for guys that have been pure within the sport, it’s a little bit tough."

Hardaway was the third total choose within the 1993 NBA Draft and the runner-up on the finish of that season's Rookie of the 12 months voting. Whereas Hardaway has positioned the professionals on the again burner, there are nonetheless just a few groups he enjoys watching.

Head coach Penny Hardaway of the Memphis Tigers reacts in the course of the second half in opposition to the Houston Cougars at FedExForum on March 5, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Justin Ford/Getty Photos)

"I do love watching (the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder), not as a result of they’re the very best group within the NBA, however they play the sport the best means," he mentioned.

"(And the) Celtics, they play the sport the best means. And I nonetheless take pleasure in watching the Grizzlies. I nonetheless like watching to see how they’re progressing. The Knicks, watching Jalen Brunson. I watch Minnesota with Anthony Edwards."

Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway (1) of the Phoenix Suns in the course of the NBA sport in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Middle on Jan. 5, 2003 in Los Angeles, California. (Jeff Gross/Getty Photos)

Whereas the arrival of identify, picture and likeness (NIL) has been broadly debated, it has undoubtedly shifted the faculty sports activities panorama. Hardaway acknowledged the adjustments in recent times however nonetheless concluded that faculty hoops’ fashion is extra interesting than what the NBA presents.

"However I’ll take that fashion over the NBA," he mentioned.

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Hardaway has guided Memphis to a few consecutive NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament appearances. The Tigers enter Saturday’s go to to Mississippi State with a 4-6 document.