20 Iconic Athletes That Were Unfortunately Made of Glass

Penny Hardaway

Image Source: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

The ’92 and ’93 drafts will live on forever in the annals of the Orlando Magic. It was in those consecutive drafts that the Magic acquired the two stars who were expected to deliver the city an NBA Championship: Shaquille O’Neal and Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway. Both players were anomalies, but we all know how O’Neal’s career turned out (four-time NBA Champion, of course). Hardaway’s career arc was a bit more tragic.

The 6-foot-7 point guard was often compared to Magic Johnson — only a better athlete. A four-time All-Star from 1995-98, Hardaway was riddled with knee injuries. From his age-25 season up until he was 29, Hardaway never played in more than 60 games in a single year. He remained a serviceable point guard for most of his career, but never realized his full potential as a star.