NBA Hall of Famer Tim Hardaway Sr. said he will not permit his son, Dallas Mavericks guard Tim Hardaway Jr., to wear the No. 10 jersey that Miami retired in the elder Hardaway’s honor.
Speaking with the New York Post, the former Heat star offered a straightforward explanation: the number already hangs in the rafters at Kaseya Center, and he believes it should remain exclusively associated with his own Miami tenure.
Hardaway Sr.’s No. 10 was officially retired by the Heat on Oct. 28, 2009, recognizing the five-time All-Star’s impact on the franchise from 1996 to 2001. Since then, no Heat player has been issued the number.
Tim Hardaway Jr., who has worn No. 11 throughout his NBA career, jokingly asked his father if he could adopt the famed No. 10 should he ever land in Miami. The answer, according to Hardaway Sr., was a firm “no.”
Hardaway Sr. emphasized that a retired jersey is meant to stay retired, adding that his son has already established his own identity with a different number.
The younger Hardaway averaged 14.4 points per game for Dallas last season and remains under contract with the Mavericks. There are no current indications he will join the Heat, making the jersey discussion largely hypothetical.
Source: New York Post
