HEAT Sign Anfernee Hardaway

MIAMI, August 9 – The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed free agent guard/forward Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Penny is a player who has been an All-Star and has enjoyed an illustrious career,” said HEAT President & Head Coach Pat Riley. “We have been impressed at his hard work and dedication this summer to get back in shape and return to the NBA. He is a skilled player who can help us in multiple positions.”

During a 13-year NBA career with the Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks, Hardaway has averaged 15.4 points, 5.1 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 1.61 steals and 34.0 minutes in 688 games (549 starts). The 6’7”, 220-pound guard/forward has shot 45.8 percent from the floor, 31.5 percent from three-point range and 77.4 percent from the foul line.

Hardaway spent his last two seasons playing for the New York Knicks. During the 2004-05 season, he came off the bench in 37 games, averaging 7.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 24.2 minutes, while shooting 42.3 percent from the floor and 30.0 percent from three-point range. He played in just four games during the 2005-06 season due to injury.

Hardaway was selected by the Golden State Warriors with the third pick in the 1993 NBA Draft. He was acquired by the Orlando Magic in a draft day trade, along with three future draft picks, for Chris Webber. In his rookie year, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and was named NBA Rookie of the Month twice. In his six seasons with the Magic, he also earned All-NBA First Team honors during the 1994-95 and 1995-96 seasons, All-NBA Third Team honors in the 1996-97 season, and was selected as an NBA All-Star four times (1995-98). He began his NBA career playing along side HEAT Center Shaquille O’Neal. Together, they helped lead the Magic to the NBA Finals in 1995.

Hardaway was acquired by the Phoenix Suns on August 5, 1999 in a sign-and-trade deal with the Magic in exchange for forwards Pat Garrity and Danny Manning, and two future first-round draft picks. He was then traded to the New York Knicks on January 5, 2004 in a multi-player trade.

Hardaway was traded back to the Orlando Magic on February 22, 2006, but was waived on February 27, 2006.

He was also a member of the gold medal-winning USA Basketball team at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

source : NBA.com