Former NBA point guard Tim Hardaway, retired since 2003 after a 14-year professional career, has been on the ballot for the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame for some time, but doesn't seen enshrinement in Springfield, Massachusetts, coming soon to him.
The Hall of Fame announced first-ballot invitations to the hallowed grounds of permanent basketball remembrance to Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, and the recently deceased Kobe Bryant on Friday. Hardaway, 53, doesn't see a vote for himself in the cards.
Per Vincent Goodwill in Yahoo Sports:
“It would be great, solidify my career,” Hardaway said. “[But] I’m not gonna beg for nothing. I've never begged for nothing in my life.”
“My grammar school coach, he said those people are very powerful and will hold a grudge against you and you'll never get into the Hall of Fame,” Hardaway said.
“When he said it, I thought it'll be forgiveness but as I think about it … my feelings was like, damn, I did [expletive] up, huh?” Hardaway said.
Goodwill cites a homophobic remark Hardaway made 13 years ago as one potential snag in enshrining the former five-time All-Star and one-third of the legendary “Run TMC” trio during the early-'90s Golden State Warriors teams. Father to current Dallas Mavericks swingman Tim Jr., Hardaway was the 14th overall pick in the 1989 NBA Draft, later playing mostly for the Warriors and later Miami Heat in his distinguished career.
Despite the accolades during his playing days, Hardaway doesn't see the Hall of Fame inviting him soon, especially following a finalist drawing in 2017 drew up closest to enshrinement.
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