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Penny Hardaway was lucky enough to play with Shaquille O’Neal at the beginning of his career and saw the iconic big man change the league forever.
Speaking on “The Big Podcast,” Hardaway spoke about what it was like to be O’Neal’s teammate.
He said traveling with O’Neal was like being with The Beatles and the rabid fans that followed him everywhere were unlike anything he had ever seen.
He said there were always people waiting for autographs and hoping to catch a glimpse of O’Neal.
Penny Hardaway shares why it was special to play with Shaq
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O’Neal was a huge deal from the moment he entered the league.
He was drafted as the first pick in the 1992 NBA draft and immediately went to work for the Orlando Magic.
He posted 23.4 points and 13.9 rebounds in his first season, startling numbers that easily earned him Rookie of the Year and an All-Star appearance.
One season later, Hardaway joined the team after being the third overall pick in the draft.
He created a friendship with O’Neal and was on hand to see the Magic star become the largest name in basketball and the biggest sports figure in the world.
They would play together until 1996 when O’Neal moved to the Los Angeles Lakers and started a new chapter in his career.
O’Neal was an NBA star unlike any other and captured the hearts and minds of everyone, including people who hardly watched basketball.
He is a generational talent who became a household name overnight and is still one of the most popular public figures on earth.
Hardaway has many great memories from his 14 years in the league but his early days with O’Neal were unlike anything else.
The post Penny Hardaway Reveals Why It Was Special To Play With Shaq appeared first on The Cold Wire.