In a candid appearance on the “Point Forward" podcast, former NBA point guard Penny Hardaway opened up about his feelings toward Shaquille O"Neal’s success with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Hardaway reflects on “what could have been"
Hardaway admitted to feeling a sense of jealousy as he watched his former Orlando Magic teammate win three consecutive championships alongside Kobe Bryant.
"Watching [Shaq] and Kobe [Bryant] together, for sure, there was some jealousy there because I felt like that should have been me and [him]… If we [had] stayed together, there would have been championships won," Hardaway confessed.
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Before O"Neal"s legendary stint with the Lakers, he was a rising star with the Orlando Magic. In his first four seasons with the team, O"Neal showcased his dominance, averaging 27.2 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game on 58% shooting over 295 games.
His efforts led the Magic to the 1995 NBA Finals, marking one of the franchise’s most successful periods.
Penny Hardaway, often overshadowed in discussions of that era, was a crucial part of the Magic’s success as Shaq"s co-star.
Hardaway’s contributions were significant, with averages of 17.5 points, 6.7 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game during his time with O"Neal. Their partnership, however, was brief.
After only a few seasons together, O"Neal left Orlando due to strained relations with the front office, signing with the Lakers in free agency. In Los Angeles, Shaq formed a formidable duo with Kobe Bryant, leading to three NBA championships.
While Shaq’s time with the Magic may not be as celebrated as his Lakers tenure, Hardaway holds those memories dear.
Watching Shaq achieve such great success in Los Angeles was bittersweet for Hardaway, who couldn’t help but wonder what might have been if they had stayed together in Orlando.
