Wade ain't seeing Penny in his prime. Dude was cooking a prime Scottie Pippen with ease. He had better handles and post up game than both Lebron and Wade.
Penny Hardaway Greatest Games: 39 Points vs Chicago Bulls (1995) - YouTube
Penny was far from overrated.He could do everything.Score...pass...post up.
He'd be one of the last players I'd call overrated.Maybe his legend gets a lil overblown, but his actual basketball skills can't be denied.His overall game was beautiful nh.One of the best combinations of modern day athleticism/fundamentally sound/crafty/ingenious skills ever manifested in a player.The slickness, the smarts, the versatility
It's hard to explain.You had to be there.His game was just all around neatness.
If you know the game, you really appreciated Penny's skills before the injuries hit.
I have a uncle who coached basketball for 35 years at the high school/AAU level.
There's only 3 players he told me to watch and study growing up.
one was Pistol Pete...he bought me this whole series
Michael Jordan
And Penny Hardaway.
In fact, he called me back in '95...long distance....just to tell me
"There's this new boy out there that I want you to watch.Really Look at his game and study it, man.Watch the way he set his man up off the dribble and how strong he is with both hands.You see that move he pulled against Starks? You see how he was able to finish? That's strength, man...you gotta get stronger"
Even basketball purist loved Penny's game.He was a bad boy when healthy