Penny Hardaway recently disclosed that the coaching staff at Memphis has stirred feelings of jealousy among other coaches. During a media interaction on Monday, he candidly shared his observations, mentioning that encountering jealousy from fellow coaches was not new to him. Hardaway expressed his surprise at this jealousy, considering that the staff comprised former NBA players who were striving for a successful transition to coaching. He emphasized that their NBA experience should erase any doubts regarding their abilities compared to college coaches.
The first-year coach expressed the team’s determination to silence critics by achieving victory. Hardaway has enlisted former NBA players, such as Mike Miller and Sam Mitchell, as assistants in his coaching staff. Notably, Sam Mitchell, too, had a professional basketball career in the NBA. Hardaway emphasized his intention to leverage his own NBA background to elevate the quality of play at his alma mater.
Addressing subsequent discussions, Hardaway clarified that he had refrained from publicly naming the envious coaches. He revealed that he had only overheard disputes among coaches vying for the recruitment of the same player, noting the negativity and discord it brought. He expressed disappointment in how such ill feelings could disrupt the purity of the sport, advocating for a more positive approach.
