Anferney Hardway - an American basketball player, played in the NBA as a light forward, attacker and point guard. The most successful for an athlete is the period of his stay with the Orlando Magic. Several times was in the national team of all NBA stars. Injuries prevented the basketball player from ending his career as brilliantly as he began it. Today, the athlete is engaged in coaching.
Biography: childhood
Anferny Hardway was born July 18, 1971 in the city of Memphis, USA. From the age of five, the boy remained in the care of grandmother Louise. She called her Pretty Grandson. Grandmother was of southern origin and had a corresponding accent. In her pronunciation, it sounded like Penny. The nickname is firmly entrenched in the child. Soon, all the friends and associates knew the boy as Penny.
Louise was strict and carefully monitored the education of the child. Penny listened to the opinion of his grandmother. It was she who influenced his choice. Initially, Anferny liked American football, but thanks to Louise, he chose classes in the basketball section.
From the age of fourteen, the teenager began to live with his mother, who returned to Memphis. She was less strict about her son's performance. This had its consequences. Penny began to devote more time to playing basketball, increasing his skills. But the teenager almost completely abandoned his studies, which he later regretted.
The young athlete in his school years played in the team Treadwell High School. Penny showed excellent results and was named the best school basketball player of the year. During his studies, he scored a record number of points. This indicator for today no one could surpass.
Gang attack
The childhood and youth of Anferny Hardueya took place in a quarter that has criminal fame. Once in 1991, he and his cousin were near the latter’s house. Suddenly, a car braked nearby. Four young people jumped out. They attacked Penny and his cousin, robbed them.
The victims rushed to flee. One of the bandits fired after them. The bullet rebounded from the asphalt and hit the foot of a basketball player. Fortunately, the important parts were not affected, the operation was successful. This did not harm the athlete's career.
Youth
In the same year, Anferny Hardway graduated from high school and decided to continue his studies at the university. His choice was at Memphis State University. But he could not boast of success at school. In addition, the wound in the leg still made itself felt. Despite this, the young man was able to overcome all obstacles.
In 1992, he was enrolled in the youth team. The athlete showed rare results for college basketball. A year later, as a second-year student, basketball player Penny decides to put himself up for draft. Memphis State University then withdraws number 25 from circulation and hangs the shirt of its best player Anferny under the arena.
Career at NBA
In a draft in 1993, Anfernee Hardaway was selected under number three by the Golden State Warriors team. He was immediately exchanged at Orlando Magic for Chris Webber. The young player took the position of an attacking defender, but he was soon transferred to the role of point guard. In the first season, he received the title "Rookie of the Year", which he shared with Chris Webber.
The following season, the basketball player reached an even higher level of play. The club broke its own record - won in 57 meetings. Anferny Hardway made his all-star debut the same year.
In 1996, Orlando Magic won sixty victories. And Penny got into the star cast for the second time in a row, which is a significant achievement on his part. Increasingly, one could hear such statements that Hardway would soon eclipse Michael Jordan himself.
“Orlando Magic” and “Chicago Bulls” met in the finals of the East. Penny's team lost. It was the end of the heyday of the club. The team showed the worst results each time. Soon, “Orlando Magic” from the leaders moved to the middle of the rating.
Fall after takeoff
In the same 1996, Anferny entered the US national basketball team to participate in the Atlanta Olympics, where he won a gold medal. “Orlando Magic” met in the playoffs with Miami Heat. Penny showed the highest level of play, but that was not enough to win.
Since 1998, basketball players are increasingly worried about knee problems. It all started with the fact that Joe Dumars caused Penny a serious injury. After that, the athlete periodically managed to recover, but then another fracture brought him out of the game. Anferny Hardway underwent many operations, but could not return to the previous level of skill.
For several more years he managed to show high results. But in 1999, after another injury, the basketball player was transferred to the Phoenix Suns through an exchange. Here he began to quickly lose shape. Penny gradually turned into a mid-level player, who was also prone to frequent injuries. Due to illness, the basketball player began to miss many matches.
In the 2000/2001 season, Penny rarely played since he had knee surgery. The next season, the athlete entered in good shape. He managed to take part in 80 matches. But he could not show such a game as before. Now Penny has been spending more and more time on the bench.
But several novice athletes appeared in the team. They did not have enough experience for a stable game. Hardway was back in the starting lineup.
He missed 24 matches of the season due to a hand injury.
Retirement
On January 6, 2004, the athlete was exchanged for the New York Knicks team. That was the end of his career. Penny stayed here for two seasons, then played a bit at the Miami Heat club, with which he signed a short-term contract on August 9, 2007. On December 12, 2007, Anferny Hardway ended his career in sports. His contract was redeemed to make way for Luke Jackson.
Life after the NBA
Having health problems, and anticipating the imminent end of his career, Penny had the opportunity to prepare for life outside of sports. In 2003, he was educated - he graduated from college. During the matches, the basketball player earned an impressive amount of money, which he then skillfully invested in business. The contract with Nike, concluded by the athlete, continued to bring good income.
Since its last game, Hardway has enjoyed relaxation and a carefree life for four years. On one such day in 2011, a call came from an old friend of Desmond Merriweather. Penny was invited to participate in the match of former graduates of his native school.
As a result, he became an assistant to Merriweather, the school team coach. And then Anferny temporarily was a mentor of the guys, replacing a friend who had health problems at this post. After the comrade recovered, Penny returned to his children in Miami. Soon Merryweather’s condition worsened again. He died on February 8, 2015. This made Harduway move to his hometown and continue his friend’s business.
Return to Mumphys
Penny became the head coach of the school team. The very next year, his wards won the state championship and took 21 lines in the ranking among all schools. After another year, they again won the tournament and were already in second position. In five years, the coach brought five titles to his students. The whole country learned about his achievements. The son of Harduaia also trains in a team led by his father.
The basketball player has invested heavily in the development of the infrastructure of his hometown. He built a basketball complex in Mumphys. Locals call Penny Coach Carter. The athlete's contribution to the development of basketball, its popularization among children and the great successes of the school team could not fail to notice the leadership of the University of Mamphis. Anferny Hardway was invited to the post of head coach of the university’s male team. He took this post in 2018.