South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
Hardaway can exhale
Former Heat guard moves on from stress of coaching after being let go by Pistons
MIAMI — Tim Hardaway is out of the pressure cooker, which he says might not be the worst thing for himself or for Stan Van Gundy.
The former Miami Heat point guard considers both himself and Van Gundy to be in a better place, which is somewhat fascinating considering both in the offseason lost coveted jobs they held the previous four seasons.
No, it was not easy for Hardaway when the Detroit Pistons cleaned house in May, having served as an assistant on Van Gundy’s staff for four seasons.
But as he sat Wednesday at AmericanAirlines Arena, there to watch his son play for the New York Knicks, Hardaway found himself at ease, even if the night proved anything but easy for his son in a 110-87 Heat rout.
“When my son first came into the league, I was with the Heat, so I wasn’t able to get with him and be with him,” Hardaway said. “And then I went to the Pistons, so I wasn’t really able to be around him and enjoy him and enjoy him as a player and go through the ups and downs with him. But now, I’m back to being a basketball dad. I want to be around him as much as possible.”
For many on the NBA coaching level, the lifestyle is a revolving door.
For Hardaway, it was enough of an eye-opening experience that if there were to be a next coaching chapter, he would want it on a different level.
“I had fun doing it, liked doing it, loved doing it,” he said with the same effervescence and cadence as during his playing days under Pat Riley. “It was a great experience. Stan helped me out with a great experience in doing stuff and putting me in position to coach.
“But if I do it again, I want to get into college coaching, teach the kids what it takes to be a pro, what it takes to be an outstanding citizen and person on and off the court. That’s what I want to do, teach kids how to play.”
There initially had been plans to join the staff at Florida International University when fellow Chicago native Isiah Thomas took over as coach there in 2009. But the lack of a college degree and fallout from insensitive comments about sexuality shut that door.
Having since worked for LGBT equality, including serving as a symbolic first signature on the 2014 Florida ballot amendment to allow same- sex marriage, Hardaway has since returned to favor with the NBA, currently serving as league ambassador. He also is involved in several business ventures, including URBan Radio Broadcasting, where he is an investor, along with former NBA player Michael Finley and former NFL player Donovan McNabb.
The goal is to move into broadcasting himself. For now, though, he is excited to see Van Gundy move into that realm, and away from the sideline.
“I think he’s going to be content as a broadcaster,” he said. “I love Stan and Stan is a great coach. He loves it too much. He puts his all in it too much. I want him to succeed in broadcasting because I think that’s where his head is, and he’s so truthful.
“And I think fans will love him to be on TV and tell everybody what it really is and how it really is.”
Hardaway also believes his son is in a better place these days, with former Heat assistant David Fizdale having taken over as Knicks coach.
“I leave the coaching up to David Fizdale, because I believe in David Fizdale,” he said. “I know David Fizdale and I know what he can do and how he can do it and how he can help Tim out.”
For that matter, he also sees the game itself in a better place, the
NBA’s early-season run of open offense reminding him of his time alongside Chris Mullin and Mitch Richmond with the Run TMC Golden State Warriors of the early ‘90s.
“I just love the style of the game,” he said. “I love how they move the ball. That’s the way we used to do it at Golden State — move, pass and cut, back door, back pick. That’s what the game is supposed to be about, understanding your teammates and teammates playing together.”
iwinderman@sunsentinel.com. Follow him at twitter.com/iraheatbeat or facebook.com/ira.winderman
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