ORLANDO, Fla. – The name Penny Hardaway is still Magic in Orlando.
When the University of Memphis basketball team, led by Hardaway, plays Oklahoma State Thanksgiving Day in an opening-round game in the AdvoCare Invitational, there will be familiarity between the city and Tigers' first-year head coach.
Hardaway played six seasons with the Magic beginning in 1993 and was selected to the NBA All-Star team four times during that span. He also was a two-time All-NBA first-team pick and helped direct the Magic to the 1995 NBA Finals.
With that as background, a heavy contingent of Orlando-based media attended the team's practice Wednesday at the HP Fieldhouse.