Penny Hardaway
Rookie
By Tim Povtak | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted March 5, 2005
Penny Hardaway is healthy again, but that doesn't mean he is happy again. Hardaway, the 11-year veteran who started his career in Orlando, was on the injured list when the Knicks played here in December. It was a familiar spot for him, having struggled through several injury-plagued seasons since his days as a star with the Magic.
He is averaging 8 points and 2.2 assists this season as a part-time role player, his first full season with the Knicks.
"It's not that I can't do it anymore. I'm just not getting the chances to do it," he said before the Knicks played the Magic at the TD Waterhouse Centre. "With have so many scorers on this team, I get very few scoring opportunities. But physically, I feel great again."
Hardaway, who helped lead the Magic to the 1995 NBA Finals in his second NBA season, has gone from being a first-team All-NBA player in Orlando to a reserve struggling to accept his role. He received a mixed reception from the fans when he entered the game, cheers mixed with boos.
"It's been so long, I've been through so much since those days here," Hardaway said. "I'm fine. Everyone has been good to me."
The Knicks spent three days in Orlando, and Hardaway drove out to his old neighborhood in Islesworth, where he expects to return this summer and buy property again.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...?coll=orl-sports-headlines&ctrack=1&cset=true
Posted March 5, 2005
Penny Hardaway is healthy again, but that doesn't mean he is happy again. Hardaway, the 11-year veteran who started his career in Orlando, was on the injured list when the Knicks played here in December. It was a familiar spot for him, having struggled through several injury-plagued seasons since his days as a star with the Magic.
He is averaging 8 points and 2.2 assists this season as a part-time role player, his first full season with the Knicks.
"It's not that I can't do it anymore. I'm just not getting the chances to do it," he said before the Knicks played the Magic at the TD Waterhouse Centre. "With have so many scorers on this team, I get very few scoring opportunities. But physically, I feel great again."
Hardaway, who helped lead the Magic to the 1995 NBA Finals in his second NBA season, has gone from being a first-team All-NBA player in Orlando to a reserve struggling to accept his role. He received a mixed reception from the fans when he entered the game, cheers mixed with boos.
"It's been so long, I've been through so much since those days here," Hardaway said. "I'm fine. Everyone has been good to me."
The Knicks spent three days in Orlando, and Hardaway drove out to his old neighborhood in Islesworth, where he expects to return this summer and buy property again.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...?coll=orl-sports-headlines&ctrack=1&cset=true