Every NBA team’s greatest point guard of all time

Orlando Magic — Penny Hardaway

1994-1999
19.0 points per game
6.3 assists per game
4.7 rebounds per game

The Penny Hardaway-Shaquille O’Neal pairing in Orlando was one of the most fun pairings in the league during the mid-90s. It was a perfect NBA Jam-type duo, which was all the rage back then. Thus, why the video game was so popular. O’Neal went on to be one of the best players of all time. Penny Hardaway did not.

Hardaway was traded immediately after he was picked third overall by the Golden State Warriors so they could get the rights to Chris Webber. Hardaway apparently made a push to go to the Magic so he could play alongside Shaq. He impressed them with multiple workouts and a pickup game alongside other Magic players. That motivated the Magic to make the draft-day trade, changing the history of three star players and two franchises.

Hardaway learned the point guard position from Scott Skiles. He was so good that season, he came in second for Rookie of the Year to the player he got traded for, Chris Webber. The next season, Hardaway played even better, and he helped lead the Magic to a franchise-record 57 wins. They made a miraculous run to the NBA Finals, beating a Jordan-less Chicago Bulls team on the way.

Hardaway showed he could be a star in the 1995-96 season. Shaq was injured to start the year, but Hardaway led them to a 17-5 record. It was the last season they played together, and they made another run to the Eastern Conference Finals. Unfortunately, Jordan returned from his baseball adventures and they won the series. O’Neal left for the Lakers in the offseason, leaving Hardaway as the only star left in central Florida. He eventually had a devastating knee injury, returned for one season after that, then the Magic traded him to the Suns. He was great while in Orlando, but like everything that is Orlando basketball, that greatness had a shelf life.