Why Tim Hardaway Sr. Refused to Unretire His No. 10 for His Son

Tim Hardaway finished his 13-season NBA career with 7,095 assists, nearly 5,000 more than Larry Nance collected over that span.

Nance still holds the head-to-head edge in unofficial, off-court helpers, however, and it isn’t close -- although Hardaway and his son, Tim Jr., apparently remain so despite recent doings.

Faced with an opportunity to channel Nance and allow his child to unretire a number he once wore, “Tim Bug” essentially said “Humbug!” to the prospect of Hardaway Jr. donning No. 10 for the Miami Heat, with whom he signed Tuesday.

Is it unfair to cast the elder Hardaway in a Scrooge-like light, even facetiously? Probably. What it is, though, is interesting. Engaging. In other words, something the first few days of the free-agency carousel command.

We figure to learn where LeBron James lands soon enough. There looks to be a short list of viable suitors for the superstar, who is seeking to play a 24th NBA season after informing the Los Angeles Lakers he won’t be returning in purple and gold.

One oft-estimated spot for LBJ is Miami, which James helped to two championships and four Finals appearances from 2010-11 to 2013-14.

No Heat teammate wore No. 10 during James’ tenure in South Beach. In fact, no one has since Miami shipped the elder Hardaway to the Dallas Mavericks in 2001.

The Heat retired Hardaway’s No. 10 in October 2009, when Junior was preparing for a senior year at Miami’s Palmetto High that preceded a star turn at Michigan and a durable pro career that’s still going – 893 games with five teams.

Hardaway Jr. donned his dad’s number with the Wolverines and over parts of his 13 NBA seasons. But it's no dice in Miami.

“My legacy is my legacy, and he’s doing it his way,” Hardaway Sr. told Miami’s WQAM radio on Wednesday. “Even though he likes to wear 10, he loves to wear 10, but that is not coming down from the rafters.”

It was nearly 8 ½ years ago when Larry Nance Jr. encountered far less resistance from his pops upon joining the Cleveland Cavaliers, for which Big Larry played power forward for parts of seven seasons, concluding in 1993-94.

Thanks to special permission from the NBA, Nance Jr. wore his dad’s No. 22 while the number remained in the Quicken Loans Arena rafters. He wore No. 24 for his first few games with the team before switching.

“My dad is a man of few words,” Nance Jr. said in February 2018, “so he kind of just let me know with a smile that he was excited.”

Nance Jr. also wore No. 22 in his second stint with the Cavs this season.

Hardaway Sr. ostensibly dipped into Nance Sr.’s grandstanding allotment when justifying his decision to WQAM, starting by doubling down on the notion that building a legacy that warrants a number retirement is “tough to do.”

“And when it’s up there, you want it to stay up there and you don’t want nobody to touch it,” he continued. “And you know, I love him. I love him to death. I’m happy for him. I’m living a life again watching him play, through college and the NBA. ... So I’m happy that he’s doing it, but no, he can’t even wear No. 10.”

As the NBA world awaits James’ decision, one wonders what kind of perks package Bronny James might have to offer his dad to get the Lakers’ sure-to-be-retired No. 23.

Of course, LA could see this as opportunity to jettison the younger James, perhaps to LeBron's next suitor once he finds one.

Until that shoe drops, let’s recognize Tim Hardaway Sr. -- and his right to come down with both feet.