This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/24/2024
Following his junior season at the University of Memphis, Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway entered the 1993 NBA Draft and was selected by the Orlando Magic with the No. 3 overall pick. Teaming with second-year center Shaquille O’Neal, Hardaway immediately made the Magic stronger and talk quickly shifted to Orlando becoming a perennial contender. The Shaq/Penny dynamic duo did not disappoint. After leading the Magic to a 50-32 record in his first season after averaging 16 points and 6.6 assists per game, Hardaway increased his scoring average to 20.9 ppg and helped steer Orlando (57-25) to its first NBA Finals the following season. This lot offers Hardaway’s game-used Magic rookie road jersey from the 1996-97 season.
The road blue mesh jersey, complete with white pinstripes and black-and-white trim adorning the collar and arm openings, reads “Orlando” across the front. A sparkling silver star takes the place of the letter “a” in the middle as the screened white lettering is all outlined in black. The embroidered NBA logo is found on the top left chest area and Penny’s uniform number “1” is front and center in white tackle twill outlined in black. Champion manufacturer’s tags reside on the left front tail indicating size ("50"), season ("93-94"), body length ("+4"), and exclusivity. The back shows “HARDAWAY” sewn in white tackle twill outlined in black, with his uniform number “1” in like fashion right below.
This jersey is properly tagged, was presented to us as game-used and in our opinion shows appropriate use.
Hardaway played a total of 15 NBA seasons and finished his career with 15.2 points and five rebounds per game averages. Though injuries largely kept Hardaway from reaching his full potential, his mark on the NBA and pop culture is forever cemented via Nike’s “Lil Penny'' advertising campaign in the mid-’90s which featured an alter ego puppet version of Hardaway which was voiced over by comedian Chris Rock. That effort and Penny’s starring role in the 1994 basketball feature film “Blue Chips” will keep his basketball persona alive. Nowadays he’s coaching his alma mater, the Memphis Tigers.
Authentication: Gotta Have Rock and Roll Certificate of Authenticity.