- 9 hours ago
Miami Heat legend Tim Hardaway Sr. shares his reaction to the news that his son - Tim Hardaway Jr. - is signing with the Miami Heat.
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00:00Tim Hardaway Sr., congratulations.
00:02I'd imagine things are going pretty damn well for you these days, right?
00:05Yes, it is.
00:07Thank you very much.
00:08We're very happy to be back at home in Miami where he grew up at,
00:13where I played at.
00:15And, you know, it's just fantastic.
00:18You know, we're excited.
00:21Yeah, when the news came out yesterday, and obviously it's your son,
00:25and we know what this organization means to you, but he is 34, right?
00:29So he is his own man.
00:31Like, what was that communication like in the announcement?
00:34And then also when it did come out,
00:37just what were some of those emotions you were feeling?
00:39Well, we knew what he wanted to do before he came out.
00:45So we had to talk about it last week about four times.
00:52And, you know, we just went on down the line, what you wanted to do.
00:58And his heart was with Miami.
01:01You know, his heart was with Miami.
01:02He wanted to come to Miami.
01:05And, you know, that's all he was saying.
01:08You know, dad.
01:10You know, Miami did.
01:11It's Miami dad.
01:12He gave all the pros.
01:13He gave all the pros and cons to, you know, which teams.
01:19And all the pros was with, you know, Miami.
01:23And, you know, I said, man, your heart is with Miami.
01:27It sounds like you want to go to Miami.
01:29It sounds like you want to be a part of what they're doing special down there right now.
01:34And, you know, you don't want to be like, ah, damn.
01:38You know, I should have went there.
01:40Now you're there.
01:41You can contribute.
01:42And, you know, you're happy with your decision.
01:45You got to be happy with your decision when you make a decision like this.
01:49Because you can't go in somewhere else, you know, thinking that, ah, did I make the right decision?
01:54Did I make the right choice?
01:55You know, ah, just thinking like that.
02:00He thought about it.
02:01He made the right decision for him.
02:04And what he wanted to do and where he wanted to go.
02:07And when you make that decision, you can live with it.
02:09And you go out there and you play.
02:11You play better.
02:12You play for something.
02:14You know, you have fun playing.
02:16I think that's what he saw.
02:18And, Tim, I'm not saying do it for some kid out of Wyoming or Kentucky.
02:23But you got to let your namesake wear 10, bro.
02:26Like, I heard you say you never going to do it.
02:28Let him wear 10, man.
02:29That would be so beautiful.
02:31That would be.
02:32But I'm not.
02:37You know, you know, you love your kids unconditionally.
02:42You know, and my legacy is my legacy.
02:46And he's doing it his way.
02:47Even though he likes to wear 10, he loves to wear 10.
02:51But that is not coming down from the rafters.
02:54And I, you know, and I can't, you know, I, you know, that's tough to do.
02:59That is tough to do.
03:01And when it's up there, you want to stay up there and you don't want nobody to touch it.
03:06And, you know, I love him.
03:08You know, I love him death.
03:09I'm happy for him.
03:10I'm living a life.
03:13You know, again, watching him play, you know, through college and the NBA.
03:19You know, he's been to three places I've never been, the Final Four, you know, a championship.
03:27And, you know, now he's going to, you know, his hometown team.
03:31I've never done that.
03:33And so I'm happy that he's doing it.
03:35But, no, he can't even wear 10.
03:36Is there anything he could give you?
03:38Like, if you had these demands or you wanted something that maybe he's never got you as a gift,
03:43is there anything he could do for you to say, yeah, you know what, son, you could have 10?
03:49No.
03:51Did he ask, like, has he asked you?
03:54Has that been a conversation that you've had with him or he just knows?
03:58He just knows.
03:59I want to tell you this.
04:00I want to tell you this.
04:01Five years ago, six years ago, we was trying to get to Miami.
04:06And it never, and they wanted him.
04:09But it never happened because of, you know, just reasons, trade reasons and all that type of stuff.
04:16But it never happened.
04:18But, you know, they tried.
04:20We tried.
04:21And he asked me that.
04:23I said, let me think about it.
04:25And I thought about it.
04:28And, man, my wife was like, uh-uh.
04:31No.
04:34No.
04:34You know.
04:37I'm sorry.
04:38But, you know, I was like, uh, I, no.
04:41You know, we thought about it for 24 hours.
04:44We were like, no.
04:46That's cool.
04:47Is it extra special knowing that he's joining a team with loads of potential right now with Giannis Antetokounmpo coming
04:56to Miami, obviously teaming up with Bam Adebayo?
04:58I mean, the team's not complete yet.
05:00But you'd imagine that the situation is going to be great for somebody that's going to help this team with
05:06their space and with their three-point threat.
05:09Yes, you're right.
05:10He's very happy.
05:11And I'm happy.
05:13Obviously, yes, everything is not done yet.
05:16You know, they're still working on a couple more other pieces.
05:19And hopefully they get them.
05:21But, you know, this is going to be something special.
05:24You know, the Miami Heat plays the right way.
05:28Eric Spolzer got these guys playing the right way.
05:31Pass and cut.
05:32Look for your shot.
05:33Be aggressive going to the hole.
05:35Make the right play.
05:36Spacing.
05:36You know, everybody gets to touch the ball.
05:39Just not standing in the corner waiting on the ball.
05:42So somebody can dribble, dribble, dribble for 24 seconds.
05:45You know, you're playing a game of basketball.
05:48And that's what he wants to do.
05:49He wants to go out there and play the game.
05:51He knows how to play the game.
05:53He knows how to come off screens.
05:55He knows how to pass the ball to the right person at the right time.
05:59And, you know, he knows the game inside and out.
06:02He got a great, great, great basketball IQ.
06:06And that's what people love about him.
06:08And if you give him a chance to do some things, he will do it.
06:13And you'll be surprised of what he can do.
06:15And I've been telling people this all along, what he can do.
06:18But they never put him in no predicaments to do it.
06:21Last year, he was in some predicaments in Denver.
06:24And he done it.
06:25That's why they stayed afloat.
06:27Because, you know, some teams, when you miss your top players,
06:31then you got, you know, some G League guys coming in.
06:35You know, Tim was a steady guy that kept the boat afloat
06:39and kept him up there in the upper echelon of the Western Conference.
06:45And, you know, and it showed in his play, you know,
06:47by being almost six men of the year.
06:50And I thought he should have won it.
06:52But, you know, that's just me.
06:54But, you know, I like what the Miami Heat does.
06:58He like what they does.
06:59And he's going to have the chance to play it
07:01and show his other talents out there on the court.
07:03So I think this is a great fit for both parties.
07:07Tim Hardaway Sr. here with us.
07:08So what's the deal?
07:10LeBron coming to Miami?
07:11You think there's a chance of that happening
07:13and your son playing alongside LeBron?
07:15You know, I think LeBron has a chance to go to Miami, Cleveland,
07:20or go to State Warriors.
07:22But I think, you know, with Steph Curry,
07:27because Steph Curry needs LeBron.
07:29And I think LeBron needs Steph Curry.
07:31You know, and that crew.
07:33I think that LeBron is sitting back,
07:35waiting to see if they can pull this off with,
07:38like Anthony Davis.
07:40And, you know, we'll see.
07:43But, you know, it's going to be hard
07:45because of what they said to Butler.
07:47But we'll see.
07:48And if they pull it off, I think,
07:50I truly think LeBron is going to go to Golden State.
07:53You know, but if it doesn't happen,
07:56you know, that possibility of him going to Cleveland,
07:59I think it would be great, too.
08:03Because I think he wants that fifth one.
08:06He wants that fifth one.
08:07And if you would, one of those two teams,
08:10and, you know, I don't know.
08:13That money right now is not working with Miami.
08:18You know, something is, I mean,
08:21I don't know if they give them the $18 million.
08:23I don't know if they can or they can't or whatever.
08:25Or the $15 million, I don't know if they can or can't.
08:28But, you know, if he wants to come back,
08:32go back to Miami, of course, they'll be right there.
08:35And, you know, yeah, one of those three teams,
08:39if he goes there, they're going to the championship.
08:41No doubt about it.
08:43And, Tim, on the court, as you start to get older,
08:45you know, you slow down.
08:47Like, you know, five times undefeated.
08:49What do older players value
08:51when they're choosing a team over a younger player?
08:53You know, you want to be the one, you want to be the guy,
08:55and then you start getting older.
08:56What are you looking at as you change teams as an older player?
09:01Looking at what can benefit me
09:04and how can I benefit them?
09:06You know, am I going to be able to, you know, get there
09:09and we're going to go over the top
09:11and make it to the finals
09:12and probably win the finals?
09:15That's what he's looking at.
09:16And Miami with Giannis, Bam, Portis, and Tim
09:21and other guys that they have, it could happen.
09:25Going to Cleveland, you know, with Harden, Mitchell,
09:29and the pieces that they have, you know,
09:32they got to trade Mobley or Allen,
09:33but, you know, he get there, you know,
09:36and even go to Golden State.
09:38LeBron lifts your team up.
09:39But LeBron holds, you know, his presence
09:45just on the court in practice, teaching guys,
09:51making guys understand what they need to do,
09:54being in the gym, taking care of his body,
09:57watching him do what he does.
09:58It gets contagious.
10:00You know, it gets contagious.
10:02You know, LeBron, I mean, when LeBron came to Miami,
10:04D-Wade started doing what LeBron did,
10:07you know, working out early or late.
10:09And keeping his body together.
10:12You know, same way with Chris Bosh.
10:14You know, he gets down to L.A.
10:16or he gets to Cleveland.
10:19All those guys working out in the morning,
10:22you know, because they saw that, you know,
10:24we want to win.
10:25We want to win.
10:26And we do what he does and how he does it
10:28and follow his leadership, we can win.
10:31And that's what he does.
10:33You know, he lifts teams up.
10:34He lifts up your confidence.
10:37He lifts up the team and makes sure that they're accountable
10:41and they know what they're doing out there on the court.
10:44Go out there and play at the optimal talent.
10:47And that's what he brings to the table.
10:49Tim Hardaway Sr., two-part question here.
10:52When the Heat acquired Giannis,
10:55what was that first reaction?
10:57And then moving forward, Giannis with Bam,
11:00how do you think that will play on out together?
11:03Well, first of all, when I saw what the Heat was giving up,
11:06I said that Milwaukee would be a fool not to take that.
11:13Even though Jalen Brown was a younger player,
11:17but they wanted to give it up picks.
11:19You know, and Milwaukee wanted picks.
11:22They wanted picks to rebuild their team,
11:24to get asset and just get better players.
11:29And that's what they wanted.
11:30That's what they got.
11:31And, you know, and it was good on both parts that they waited
11:36and wasn't hasty in doing it at the trade deadline.
11:42Be smart about it.
11:43You know, let's see what other teams are going to offer us.
11:46And Miami Heat had the same offer, probably,
11:51that they had at trade deadline.
11:55And they said, this is the best we're going to get,
11:57and I think this is the right move for us.
11:59And, but I kind of had, when I read that, I said, you know,
12:04Milwaukee better pull that trigger on that
12:06because that's the best they're going to get.
12:09And they did.
12:10And I kind of knew that Giannis was going to come to Miami.
12:14And I knew that Pat Rowley had it figured out
12:17and understood exactly what he needed to do,
12:20how he needed to do it to get him there.
12:23And, you know, I think this is going to work out very, very well.
12:30You mentioned, you know, Pat Riley did what he had to do.
12:33There's a lot of speculation in terms of LeBron's next stop
12:36that maybe Pat and LeBron just still don't see eye to eye
12:40going back to that exit in 2014.
12:42I mean, you were around Pat for many years
12:46and now still around the organization as well.
12:49Do you think that is a factor at play here?
12:53Because it seems to me like 12 years is a long time
12:56and both those guys want another ring.
12:59LeBron at the end of his career
13:00and Pat certainly before he decides to hang it up.
13:03Could you see that kind of getting in the way though
13:07of LeBron ultimately maybe choosing Miami?
13:10You know, I don't, you know, I think they repaired it.
13:15I'm not for certain.
13:17Don't quote me on that.
13:18But I think they repaired it, you know,
13:22and LeBron or Rich Paul didn't say,
13:25nope, we're not definitely not going to Miami, you know.
13:29So it's still in the picture.
13:32But, you know, we get, these guys got to wait and see.
13:35This is like Aaron Rodgers right now.
13:37Now, everybody's waiting in the NBA to see what LeBron is going to do.
13:41And, you know, but it's different than Aaron Rodgers.
13:44LeBron is 41.
13:45And what he's doing at 41 being an all-star, okay.
13:50Then, you know, top, still top, what, 10 in the NBA.
13:55And everybody thought he looked like he was a third fiddle, okay.
14:00At times, he looked like he was the first one.
14:03He's the first guy on the team.
14:05This is what I'm going to do.
14:06Y'all follow my lead.
14:07You know, him, you know, reverse dunking at 41.
14:10Everybody in their 40s, 41, said probably Kareem, you know.
14:15He's never played at a high level like LeBron.
14:18So what he's doing is remarkable, man.
14:21And how he takes care of his body.
14:23His body fat is down.
14:25His weight is down.
14:26He understands that he got to, you know,
14:28he got to keep it down for him to be healthy.
14:31Yeah, but you still got to, you know, maintain.
14:33You know, you still got to watch him.
14:35You still got to give him, you know, some rest here and there.
14:39But what he does at 41, playing at the level that he's playing, man, it's remarkable.
14:45And he, right now, right now, he could play another two years.
14:49And he's beating Father Time right now.
14:51But, I mean, you know, at 45, 46, if he was going to play man, yeah, it's going to catch
14:55up again.
14:56But right now, he's, you know, he's playing.
15:00And, I mean, still at all-star, all-NBA level.
15:07And, Tim, to that question, Solana, just said, is it tough to play for Pat Riley?
15:11Because everybody, like you're saying, you're hearing that stuff about Pat and the heat way and all of that stuff.
15:16Is it harder to play for Pat Riley than other coaches you played for?
15:22So, let's get this straight.
15:24Pat Riley is not the coach.
15:26Okay, Pat Riley is the president slash GM or whatever.
15:31But he's not the coach, all right?
15:34Eric Spolstra is the coach, all right?
15:37And Eric Spolstra implements his own stuff the way it should be right now.
15:42Back in the 80s and 90s, it was totally different.
15:46And Pat Riley understands that.
15:48And that's why he let Eric Spolstra do what he does.
15:51But Eric Spolstra and Pat Riley and the rest of those guys, they take a look and say,
15:57this is what you need or what do you need and can this work for you?
16:02If Eric says no, then, you know, they look at something else.
16:05But, of course, Giannis, I mean, come on now.
16:09It works for everybody.
16:11And so, he gaffled.
16:13And that's Pat's job now is to make sure he puts a team together for Eric Spolstra to go out
16:21there and win a championship.
16:23Now, saying that, just like Greg Plumovich, at times, when he sees stuff not going right, he's going to come
16:30in and talk, you know, and say what he needs to say.
16:36And he's going to say it to Spolstra and he's going to say it to the team.
16:39And you adhere to it.
16:41And you respond to it.
16:43But, yeah, he's not the coach.
16:45He's the president.
16:46And he's doing a hell of a job putting teams together for Eric Spolstra to go out there to succeed.
16:52And Eric Spolstra has succeeded.
16:55One last thing for me, Tim Hardaway Sr., just getting back to your son.
16:59This is something, like you said, you wanted for a long time.
17:02Can you take me to what you may be feeling in October, November, when you see your son play his
17:08first game in a Miami Heat uniform?
17:11Yeah.
17:12It probably, when I see it, if I see it on TV, it's not going to really resonate until I'm
17:21right there in the stand and I see it.
17:24But then I might be a little emotional.
17:26I might be, you know, I might see a tear in my eye.
17:29But you're definitely going to see me grinning.
17:32And you're definitely going to see my chest poked out.
17:35And you're definitely going to see a little pep in my step when I walk.
17:39Because I'm so happy for him because he wanted this.
17:42He wanted this for a long time.
17:44And, you know, he's Heat family.
17:47No matter what nobody says, he's Heat family.
17:51And he's always going to be Heat family.
17:53And I, you know, I appreciate them making an initiative to get him there this year.
18:01I know he won't be wearing the number 10.
18:03But you'll be getting his jersey, just wondering, whatever number he picks.
18:06I think I saw 11 online or something like that.
18:09And I will say this.
18:11I never wore a New York Knicks jersey.
18:14I never wore a Atlanta Hawks jersey.
18:19I never wore a Dallas Mavs jersey.
18:22I never wore a Denver Nuggets jersey.
18:26But you're goddamn right.
18:27I will have one of Miami Heat jerseys with Hardaway Jr. on there.
18:33That's awesome.
18:34Come on.
18:35Let him wear a 10.
18:36It'd be so nice.
18:37Come on.
18:38I already have the jersey ready to go.
18:40You know what he could do?
18:42He could wear my jersey to the game.
18:45That would be cool.
18:49Tim, I...
18:49He could wear one of my jerseys to the game.
18:52As a matter of fact, I'm going to...
18:53You know, my red jersey is at the Hall of Fame.
18:56I'm going to tell him to send that back so he can start wearing my red jerseys to the game.
19:02Tim, I went to high school here.
19:05I grew up in Dade the same time your son was playing at Palmetto.
19:08So I got to watch him play at Palmetto.
19:11When I take you back to those years, could you have imagined this?
19:16Like, was this something that ever crossed your mind?
19:19I mean, he was obviously an absolute stud in high school.
19:22So you figured there was a possibility of him going to the NBA.
19:25But did you ever envision he'd be in a Miami Heat jersey when you think back to those years?
19:31I never thought he would be in a Miami Heat jersey thinking about those years.
19:35You know, I know it was going to be tough.
19:40You know, as he was coming out of high school, he had to go into college and prove himself
19:45and to show people that he belonged in the NBA.
19:49And when he showed me that he belonged in the NBA, I was like, yes, he's ready to come out.
19:54And that was after his junior year.
19:56And I was so happy that he's in the NBA.
20:02But, you know, I'm really happy, very, very happy how he has improved each and every year
20:11and how he's grown each and every year and how he's got better and better and better
20:19offensively and defensively each and every year.
20:22So I'm proud of him for his work ethic and how seriously he takes his game
20:29and how he wants to be a really good, great basketball player.
20:34So that's what I love about him.
20:37And he never stops.
20:39He loves to improve.
20:41He loves to work on his game.
20:42And now I think he's with a team.
20:45Like I said, everybody on that team from day one is going to work their butt off.
20:50They're going to play hard, and everybody's going to make a difference on that team.
20:56And then confidence on that team.
20:58You're going to see the confidence oozing on that team.
21:01But the big thing is staying healthy.
21:04The big thing, that's what was wrong with the Heat the last three or four years.
21:08They wasn't healthy going into the playoffs.
21:11If they stay healthy going into the playoffs, yeah, they can make a serious, serious run
21:17at winning the finals.
21:19And, Tim, I do it on the way out quickly.
21:21I'm a basketball dad.
21:23My daughter plays the two guards.
21:24She can play.
21:25She's a good player.
21:26Give me the cheat code, man.
21:27How did you get your son to the NBA?
21:30How did I get my son to the NBA?
21:31I shut up, and I let him play, and I let him ask you questions.
21:37And you go from there.
21:38You know, I didn't force it on him.
21:40I didn't tell him, you know, you're playing bad.
21:42You need to do this.
21:44And when he wanted to ask me a question about it, I'd tell him about it.
21:48I'd tell him to learn from each and every game that you play.
21:51Learn from your opponents.
21:53Learn from your teammates.
21:55Understand how to make them better.
21:57Okay?
21:58But go out there and still have the confidence to do what you do.
22:02Work on your game to get better.
22:03But you still got to have the confidence to do what you do and to make shots
22:09and to make plays for your team.
22:11So that's why I tell parents today, don't get mad.
22:15Don't get upset because they still learn.
22:19They are still learning.
22:21And they have to learn on their own.
22:23And if you force it upon them, then they doubly stress because they're hearing it
22:28from other people.
22:29They're hearing it from the coach.
22:30They're hearing it probably from their teammates.
22:32You got to let them be, and you always got to be encouraging.
22:35And you always got to make them keep their confidence level up.
22:39Because once you lose your confidence, you know, Crowley,
22:44once you lose your confidence, you're not good for your team.
22:51He's Tim Hardaway Sr.
22:52The day after his son Tim Hardaway Jr.
22:54announced that he's signing with the Miami Heat.
22:56Tim Hardaway Sr., of course, joins us in the Toyota of Hollywood Hotline Shop.
22:59Over 2,000 Toyotas on sale.
23:00One location.
23:01Toyota of Hollywood on 441 between Hollywood and Sheridan.
23:05ToyotaofHollywood.com.
23:06Love to hear the excitement of your voice.
23:07Appreciate you giving us some time today.
23:09Let me say this.
23:12Everybody, go get my book.
23:14It'll tell you the blueprint to how to raise your kid as a sports person.
23:19All right?
23:20As a sports parent.
23:21I have a great book that's out.
23:24Crossover from the streets of Chicago to basketball royalty.
23:28And I'll be at the Miami Arena at the bookstore sometime before the season start or right before the season
23:36start signing books.
23:38So, I'm telling you to get the book.
23:40My book is a great read.
23:41You get it on Amazon.
23:43Go to Amazon and get it.
23:45And you would love to read it.
23:47You just made a sale, Tim.
23:49You got me.
23:51How about if your son sells 100,000 books, he gets to wear the number 10?
23:58Man, what's wrong with you?
23:59What is wrong with you, man?
24:01He don't listen.
24:02He don't listen, Tim.
24:04I see.
24:05You're like my kids at times.
24:07You don't listen.
24:10I tell him, listening is a skill, not an art.
24:13It's a skill.
24:15It's like basketball or football.
24:17It's a skill.
24:18You got to work on your skills.
24:20Hey, my dad used to tell me no.
24:22I go ask my other parent all the time.
24:24Oh, wow.
24:26And you know what?
24:27My kid used to do the same thing.
24:29And my wife would be like, no.
24:32No.
24:32Tell him no.
24:33Yeah, my mom would say yes.
24:34No.
24:36Tim, congratulations.
24:38We appreciate it.
24:40Appreciate y'all.
24:41I'll see y'all very soon.
24:43There you go.
24:44Tim Hardaway Sr., his number 10, is retired.
24:47It ain't coming down, not even for his own son.
24:51We're after it, Gil.
24:52No, you were after it.
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