“I wanted to be the next Magic, then I saw Penny, I’m like he’s got a real chance” – Jalen Rose on what he truly thought about Penny Hardaway originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Every player entering the NBA dreams of one day being mentioned among the greatest to ever play the game. However, while the ambition is widespread, very few possess the raw talent, basketball IQ and intangible qualities necessary to truly reach that elite tier.
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For Jalen Rose, that dream was fueled early on by his admiration of Magic Johnson – a player whom he grew up idolizing. Watching the three-time MVP lead the Showtime Lakers to five championships in nine years only intensified Rose’s desire to emulate his hero. Yet, it wasn’t until he watched Penny Hardaway that he came to terms with what was required to actually be in the conversation with Magic.
Jalen Rose believes Penny Hardaway had the chance to be the next Magic Johnson
Stepping into Magic’s shoes is a task that even to this day, few can even dare to attempt. At 6’9″, he redefined the point guard position. Not only did his elite playmaking make each of his teammates better, but his two-man, pick-and-roll tandem with Kareem Abdul Jabbar was unstoppable. Even though he prioritized making plays, when the Purple and Gold desperately searched for a scorer, Magic always rose to the occasion.
With his killer court vision, creativity and ability to take over a game in crunch time, Penny showed flashes of that very greatness NBA fans became accustomed to seeing Magic pull off in the ’80s.
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During Rose’s rookie season, he watched Penny lead the Orlando Magic all the way to the NBA Finals, averaging 19.6 points and 7.7 assists per game in the playoffs, after he had already secured an All-NBA First Team nod through his performance in the regular season. More impressively, in the playoffs, Penny eliminated veterans like Dominique Wilkins, Reggie Miller and Scottie Pippen. So, for Rose, it became clear that Hardaway had the natural flair, game style and leadership to become the next generation-inspiring point guard.
“If anybody’s game I ever wanted to have, it’s Penny Hardaway’s. I was like, ‘My game is alright, but I want his game,” Rose said with a bright smile on his face. “My entire life, I wanted to be the next Magic (Johnson), and then I saw Penny, I’m like, ‘He’s got a real chance.'”
Hardaway had everything necessary to be the next great PG
Hardaway’s 6’7″ frame and agile 195-pound body gave him a rare blend of size and athleticism, making him one of the most complete point guards of his era. Sadly, his story took a tragic turn when a string of injuries would derail his career to the point that, in his final four NBA seasons, Penny couldn’t even average double-digit points, a stark contrast to the brilliance of his earlier years. That was what hindered his path into the Hall of Fame as well.
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Nevertheless, admissions like these from former players like Rose also shed light on how unstoppable Penny was during his early years and had the injury bug never affected him, Hardaway had the chance to be amongst the greatest of all time.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 8, 2025, where it first appeared.