Tim Hardaway

Tim Hardaway: The Killer Crossover Point Guard of the 90s NBA

Tim Hardaway terrorized defenses in the 90s with his lethal crossover and clutch shooting. His ball-handling creativity defined an era at point guard.

Childhood and College Years

Timothy Duane Hardaway was born in 1966 in Chicago and grew up playing for Carver Area High School.  As a result,  he later attended college at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).

Hardaway excelled under coach Don Haskins at UTEP, averaging 13.2 points and 5.4 assists over four seasons. He set a school record with 598 career assists, showing his passing abilities.

Breakout with Golden State

The Golden State Warriors drafted Hardaway 14th overall in 1989. He soon formed the famous “Run TMC” trio with Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin.

Hardaway became known for his killer crossover dribble move. He averaged over 20 points and 9 assists during his time with Golden State, making five straight All-Star teams.

Miami Heat Star

In 1996, Hardaway was traded to the Miami Heat where he reached new heights. Teamed up with Alonzo Mourning, Hardaway led Miami to some of its earliest successful seasons.

During his Heat prime, Hardaway averaged 20 points and 8 assists a game. He made All-NBA First Team in 1997 while leading Miami to a conference finals. Hardaway’s number 10 jersey was later retired by the Heat.

Legacy as Point Guard Innovator

Chronic injuries took their toll late in Hardaway’s career, causing him to retire in 2003. He finished with over 15,000 points and 7,000 assists in 13 seasons.

Hardaway’s creativity with crossovers and handles made him an influential point guard in the 90s. The “UTEP Two-step” broke countless ankles and dazzled fans during his career.

2023 Update on Retirement

Since retiring, Hardaway has been involved with different basketball developmental leagues and AAU programs. He makes appearances celebrating the Heat’s history.

Hardaway appeared on ESPN’s Chicago Bulls docuseries “The Last Dance” in 2020. Now 56 years old, his game-changing moves still come up when discussing basketball’s most amazing ball handlers.

Former Warriors Tim Hardaway is photographed during an interview with this newspaper during halftime of the Golden State Warriors’ Game 3 NBA Western Conference finals against the Houston Rockets at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, May 20, 2018. Hardaway will be inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame (BASHOF) on Monday night during a ceremony at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)