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Tim Hardaway Jr. grew up in Miami, where his father is nothing short of a legend.
After spending his first six and a half seasons with the Golden State Warriors, the Heat acquired Tim Hardaway Sr. in a trade, and he became one of the franchise’s all-time greats.
Now, Junior will follow in his father’s footsteps, agreeing to a $6.5 million deal to join the Heat and be one of the shooters around the soon-to-be officially acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo.
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Miami Heat’s Tim Hardaway drives to the basket of the New York Knicks’ Charlie Ward in the first quarter of Game 4 of their first playoff series at Madison Square Garden. (Stan Honda/Getty Images)
Hardaway’s number 10 was retired by the Heat in 2009, and to keep it in the family, his son wore the number in three of his five NBA stops.
The Heat are his sixth, but his son still has to listen to his father, and No. 10 is banned.
“My legacy is my legacy. As much as he likes to wear the number 10, it doesn’t come down from the rafters,” Tim Hardaway Sr. said on WQAM radio in Miami. “It’s hard to do. And when it’s up there, you want it to stay up there, and you don’t want anyone to touch it.
“I love him. I love him. I’m happy for him… Watching him play in college and in the NBA, he’s been to three places that I’ve never been to: the Final Four, a championship, and now he’s going to his hometown team. I’ve never done that, and so, I’m happy that he’s doing it.
Tim Hardaway Jr. of the Detroit Pistons talks to Tim Hardaway Sr. before the game against the Milwaukee Bucks during the Emirates NBA Cup game on December 3, 2024 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images))
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“But no, he can’t wear No. 10.”
The elder Hardaway finished fourth and sixth in MVP voting and was named to the All-NBA First Team and two All-NBA Second Teams during his tenure. The franchise won its fourth title four years after his departure with the help of Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal.
Hardaway Jr. has already worn many other numbers during his other stops like No. 5 and No. 3, but those are unavailable thanks to current Heat player Nikola Jovic and Wade, respectively. The No. 11, which he wore with the Dallas Mavericks, is also worn by Jaime Jacquez Jr.
Tin Hardaway Sr. and Tim Hardaway Jr. of the Dallas Mavericks talk before the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves as part of the NBA Global Games Abu Dhabi 2023 at Etihad Arena on October 5, 2023 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Brian Choi/NBAE via Getty Images)
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So, he may have to pay something to Trevor Keels, who played eight games with the Heat wearing number 8.
