Penny Hardaway
Jordan stats: 30.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 5.3 apg, 2.4 spg, 0.8 bpg, .497 FG%, .327 3P%, .835 FT%
Hardaway was chosen third overall in the 1993 draft by the Golden State Warriors, but was immediately traded to the Orlando Magic for Chris Webber. He was fortunate enough to play with Shaquille O’Neal for three years and the duo led the Magic to a Finals appearance in 1995, but they couldn’t contend with Hakeem Olajuwon, who was playing at the very top of his game, and the Houston Rockets. Orlando turned out to be too small for both Penny and Shaq so the big man bolted for LA, and the season after Shaq left was the last time Penny averaged better than 20 ppg. Since then, he’s been an injury-riddled complimentary player, playing for Phoenix and now New York. Once he reached the midpoint of his career, Hardaway had lost most of the athleticism that initially drew the MJ comparisons, though he was never really on track to match any of Jordan’s accomplishments anyway. Aside from that, Hardaway should be docked another point just for having a first name like Anfernee.
