Penny Hardaway

Penny Hardaway's peak — from 1994 to 1997 — was as good as any point guard in NBA history not named Magic Johnson. At 6'7" with elite ball-handling, court vision, and scoring ability, he was the prototype for the modern tall point guard. His partnership with Shaquille O'Neal in Orlando produced a 1995 Finals appearance and the most exciting young duo in basketball — a tandem that seemed destined to win multiple championships before Shaq's departure to Los Angeles shattered the dream.

Hardaway's 1995-96 season — 21.7 points, 7.1 assists, 4.3 rebounds — was the statistical peak of a player who could do everything on a basketball court. His combination of size, athleticism, and skill was unprecedented for a point guard, and his Lil' Penny Nike commercials made him one of the most marketable athletes in the world. He finished third in MVP voting that season, behind only Jordan and Robinson.

Knee injuries devastated Hardaway's career beginning in 1997. He was never the same explosive player, and by his late twenties, the athlete who had seemed destined for all-time greatness was a diminished role player. The gap between what Hardaway was and what he could have been is one of basketball's great tragedies — a career of limitless potential cut short by a failing body.