Tim Hardaway
early on looked to be the gem of this draft class before injuries dragged
him down. He was a mid first round draft pick at number 14, and other
less successful guards such as Nick Anderson and Pooh Richardson were
drafted ahead of him. Tim has the distinction of being one of only 5
rookies in history to finish in the top ten in assists. Being the leading
playmaker for the highest scoring team in the league during his rookie
season, led to his unanimous selection to the NBA All-Rookie Team.Tim has been a formidable point guard due to his ability
to produce both points and assists AND drive the ball up the court for the
score. His cross-over dribble is the best in the business and freezing
defenders, leading to an easy basket or a point-producing pass. Now he
has lost a quarter of a step due to an injury plagued stretch, and
Allen Iverson might try to lay claim to the title of most dangerous
cross-over. Tim joined an elite club to record 20 point and 10 assist
averages in back to back seasons along with Oscar Robertson, Magic
Johnson, Isiah Thomas and Kevin Johnson. Hardaway was perhaps best in
1991-92 when he was named to the All-NBA Second Team. In 1993 he followed
that performance up with a selection to the All-NBA Third Team. He had an
outstanding year in 1996-97 for the Heat when he made a run at MVP,
finishing the season by being named to the All-NBA First Team for the
first time in his career. He followed up a great 1997, with an almost
as good 1998, being named to the All-NBA Second Team. He was again
named to the All-NBA Second Team in 1999. Tim played in three
consecutive all-star games
from 1991-1993 with Golden State and returned in 1997 with the Heat when
he was named a reserve. Tim was also a reserve in 1998, although he
deserved the start. He was the youngest all-star in 1991 and 1992.
In 1992 he was elected to start, but he stepped aside to let Magic Johnson play. He joined Reggie Miller, Dan
Majerle, Mark Price and Joe Dumars in the backcourt on Dream Team
II. He was also named to the team in 2000.
Injury and tension with the coaching staff led to a dismal couple of years
in Golden State, where he had played almost 7 seasons. He didn't play at
all in 1993-94 and was limited by injury and benching-coaches decision,
the next year. He was traded along with Chris Gatling to the Miami
Heat on February 22, 1996 for Kevin Willis and Bimbo Coles. He did so
well under Pat Riley that he was signed to a news deal following the
season. He hold's the Miami franchise record for 19 assists in a game
(4/19/96 against Milwukee). His career high is 22 against Orlando
when he was with the Warriors (12/16/94). Now, he figures to put up
typical Tim Hardaway stats of 10 assists and almost 20 points per game.
Only 7 players have averaged 20 points and 10 assists over a season (Oscar
Robertson, Tiny Archibald, Magic, Isiah, Kevin Johnson, Michael Adams and
Tim Hardaway). This sizes up Tim's outstanding and continuing to
soar career: he scored 5,000 points and collected 2,500 assists
faster than anyone in NBA History, except the great Oscar Robertson (262
games vs. 247).
The initials "MEE" on the back of his
shoes are in memory of his grandma, Minny E. Eubanks. Tim graduated from
High School at Carver in Chicago, and moved on to the University of
Texas-El Paso, before being drafted at number 14 by Golden
State. On September 29, 2000 Miami re-signed Tim
Hardaway to a 1 year, $12 million contract. On August 22, 2001 Miami
signed Hardaway to a three year contract worth $10 million dollars then
traded him to Dallas for a future 2nd round draft pick. On February 21,
2002, in a last minute deal just beating the trade deadline, Dallas sent
Hardaway, Juwan Howard and Donnell Harvey plus cash and a first round
draft pick in the 2002 draft to Denver for Raef LaFrentz, Nick Van Exel,
Avery Johnson and Tariq Abdul-Wahad. Tim came out of retirement, and away from his career as a Sports Commentator, to play 10 games for the Pacers at the end of the 2002-03 season.
| PPG | RPG | APG | StlPG | |
| College | 11.7 | 2.6 | 4.5 | 2.1 |
| Rookie | 14.7 | 3.9 | 8.7 | 2.1 |
| 1990-91 | 22.9 | 4.0 | 9.7 | 2.6 |
| 1991-92 | 23.4 | 3.8 | 10.0 | 2.0 |
| 1992-93 | 21.5 | 4.0 | 10.6 | 1.8 |
| 1994-95 | 20.1 | 3.1 | 9.3 | 1.4 |
| 1995-96 | 15.2 | 2.9 | 8.0 | 1.7 |
| 1996-97 | 20.3 | 3.4 | 8.6 | 1.9 |
| 1997-98 | 18.9 | 3.7 | 8.3 | 1.7 |
| 1998-99 | 17.4 | 3.2 | 7.3 | 1.2 |
| 1999-00 | 13.4 | 2.9 | 7.4 | 1.0 |
| 2000-01 | 14.9 | 2.6 | 6.3 | 1.2 |
| 2001-02 | 9.6 | 1.8 | 4.0 | 0.8 |
| 2002-03 | 4.9 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 0.9 |
| Career (thru 2003) | 17.7 | 3.3 | 8.2 | 1.7 |
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