© Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Former Warriors guard Tim Hardaway had a decorated 13-year career that featured five All-Star appearances. He averaged 17.7 points and 8.2 assists per game and spawned one of the most legendary crossovers in NBA history.
But he is not a Hall-of-Famer, at least not yet. He believes his off-court actions are the primary reason why.
In 2007, four years after Hardaway retired from the NBA, his homophobic rant on Dan Le Batard’s radio show in Miami went viral.
“You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known,” Hardaway said. “I don’t like gay people, and I don’t like to be around gay people. I am homophobic. I don’t like it. It shouldn’t be in the world or in the United States.”
Hardaway recently told Hoops Hype the infamous rant explains why he has yet been inducted into the Hall.
“Well, you know, the reason I’m not in is because of what I said in 2007 about gay people,” he told Hoops Hype. “That’s why I’m not in right now, and I understand it. I hurt a lot of people’s feelings and it came off the wrong way, and it was really bad of me to say that.”
Hardaway paired with Chris Mullin and Mitch Richmond to form Golden State’s legendary “Run TMC.” Both Mullen and Richmond are in the Hall of Fame. Hardaway, whose career numbers could warrant an induction, is waiting his turn.
Hardaway says he has learned from his mistakes and changed his ways.
“Since then, I’ve turned a wrong into a right,” Hardaway said. “My parents used to always tell me, ‘If you do something wrong, look it in the eye. Don’t back down from it and be scared of it. Go make it right and make people understand that you made a mistake.’ And that’s what I did. I’m trying to do what’s right, supporting gay people and transgender people.
I want people to understand [what they go through] and understand them as people. They shouldn’t be seen as ‘other’ people. You shouldn’t call them [derogatory names] or look at them all ugly. Those are people too. They should get to live their lives just like we live our lives and that means having freedom and having fun. They should get to enjoy their life the way they’re supposed to enjoy life. … I’ve talked to people from the LGBTQ community [and I tell them], ‘You’re supposed to have the same rights that we have and supposed to be able to do everything that we do. You shouldn’t be outcast.’”