"I'mma let the sleeping dog lie": Penny Hardaway didn't have the courage to trash talk Michael Jordan despite MJ wearing his signature shoe
It was Game 3 of the 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals between Penny Hardaway's Orlando Magic and Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls. Jordan, fresh off his first comeback from retirement, surprisingly donned Hardaway's signature shoe, Nike Air Flight One for the game. That was the only time in his career that His Airness wore a shoe other than his iconic Air Jordans.
Penny Hardaway, the Memphis Tigers coach, joined cohosts Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles on the Knuckleheads podcast on Wednesday, where he talked about the story behind Jordan wearing his signature sneaker.
"When he came back, they didn’t have an Air Jordan available because he didn’t make one. Then he was like, 'Well, give me kid's shoes,' that’s what he called me — kid," Hardaway said (1:03:11).
"So he rocked them joints, and I was still sitting out there going, 'This man got my shoes on.' The only thing he did was cut the number one off the back, but he kept the shoes ... I thought that was crazy 'cause he’s never worn another shoe outside of a Jordan."
Hardaway further said that he had no idea Jordan would wear his shoe and only learned about it during the game. Darius Miles asked him if he had said anything to Jordan regarding the shoe.
"Hell no, I let him do it. I said, no, I'mma leave, I'mma let a sleeping dog lie," Hardaway replied (1:04:10). "I appreciate you rocking them. I ain't say nothing about the shoes. I ain't say nothing. I'm like, I'm not bothering this dude. Let him be."
Jordan wore the Air Jordan 11s in the first two playoff games, but the NBA said their colors broke the dress code. As a result, he ended up wearing Penny Hardaway's black Air Flight Ones.
Penny Hardaway detailed playing his first game against Michael Jordan
Penny Hardaway came into the NBA in 1993, the year Michael Jordan retired temporarily. He got the opportunity to play against Jordan in 1995, when Jordan returned to the league.
The Orlando Magic visited the Chicago Bulls on March 24th, 1995 and Hardaway recounted the experience of facing Jordan for the first time in the episode of 'The Draymond Green Show,' which will be released on Thursday.
I was trying to put fear in him guarding me because I knew what he was gonna try to do to me on the other end," Hardaway said.
Penny Hardaway recorded 22 points, six assists and five rebounds on the night, outscoring Michael Jordan's 21 points to lead Orlando to a 106-99 win over the Bulls.