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SVJETSKI KUP: Karta 40 KUNA???...BLUE CHIPS REUNION: Penny u Shaqovom Heatu!!!
SN/KOŠARKA - 11/08/2007...
HEAT NOTEBOOK
Hardaway finally pain-free
Having shed 22 pounds and overcome a debilitating knee injury, Penny Hardaway said Friday he's pain-free and primed to resume his NBA career with the Heat.
A day after signing a one-year, non-guaranteed contract, Hardaway, 36, said his knee problems are behind him after surgery to remove a bone spur 1 ½ years ago.
"I'm able to run without any pain for the first time in five years," he said. "I can cut, I can jump."
PENNY HARDAWAY TIMELINE: Mix of Penny Hardaway highlights. A timeline of his career.
Hardaway, who said his weight is down to 213, said he ''had a lot of doubts'' whether he could return to the league ``because I was in such pain. I was . . . not even [able to] walk normally without pain in the back of my leg. It has been such a hard road to get to this point.''
He appeared in four games (for the Knicks) in the 2005-06 season and was out of the league last season.
"The No. 1 force for me coming back is to win a championship and the love of the game," he said, adding he's not concerned about how much he plays. "I'm thankful to have an opportunity to play [for] the Miami Heat."
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Hardaway, who has a home in Pinecrest, clashed with Shaquille O'Neal at times when they were Orlando teammates, but Hardaway said he had a long, ''great'' conversation with O'Neal last season when he was interested in joining the Heat. (The team was not interested at that time.)
"Neither one of us have any hard feelings," Hardaway said. "We still care about each other. He gave his blessing to coach [Pat Riley] that it would be OK with him if they brought me in to work out."
Informed that Dwyane Wade is eager to seek advice from him, Hardaway said, "Dwyane is so awesome already, and I know I can definitely help his game. I've already started with [Heat rookies] Daequan Cook and Jeremy Richardson."
Barry Jackson
MiamiHerald.com
Post je objavljen 11.08.2007. u 10:30 sati.