Hardaway talks about Jordan, more on ‘The Jump’
Penny Hardaway feels the way things unfolded with NBA Draft prospect R.J. Hampton was “a little unfortunate.”
The Memphis basketball coach was a guest on ESPN’S “The Jump” Thursday afternoon and was asked about the private workouts being held for Hampton at the school’s Laurie-walton Family Basketball Center. Those workouts were halted earlier this week since they were not in line with the university’s current COVID-19 protocols.
“As far as the R.J. Hampton thing, yeah, that was a little unfortunate,” he told Rachel Nichols. “We are practicing social distancing. I made a decision to do so with him to help him out, and so did (assistant coach Mike Miller). Obviously, (school officials) shut us down. But, it’s very difficult in today’s time to get anything accomplished.”
Hardaway, entering his third season with the Tigers, also touched on several other subjects during the interview, including being part of the last team to beat Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls in the playoffs. The Orlando Magic eliminated the Jordan and the Bulls in 1995 in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
“We obviously caught Michael at a great time (with him) just coming back from baseball,” Hardaway said. “But at the end of the day, we do have those bragging rights as the last team … during that span to have beaten that team — that great team.”
Hardaway’s well-known ad campaign with Nike in the 1990s that featured Lil Penny also came up during the appearance.
Nichols asked Hardaway about the fact that Eddie Murphy, not Chris Rock — who voiced the character — was the company’s first choice for the role.
“Yeah, that would’ve been incredible,” Hardaway said.
“Because, to me, Eddie is the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all-time) now, living. But it wasn’t so bad to get Chris Rock. He wasn’t as known when he got at the spot versus Eddie Murphy.
“Everybody knows Eddie Murphy, who he was. Chris Rock definitely did an unbelievable job still.
“But to have Eddie, that would’ve been very different.”