Before the Golden State Warriors had Stephen Curry, there was Tim Hardaway. In the 1990s, Hardaway was one of the original pioneers of the infamous crossover dribble. His signature crossover was virtually unstoppable.
At just 6 feet tall, Hardaway was a true Warrior, and although his team didn't win a championship, he was a major influence on the next generation of point guards.
Curry and other's imaginations grew because of legends like Hardaway. That's why you see so much skill in today's game. Athletes learn from the past and implement it into their present style of play. Sometimes similarities between the past and present can occur more than just on the court.
Just like Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, the Splash Bros, Tim Hardaway and a few of his teammates had a cool nickname of their own. Hardaway and Hall of Famers Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin were known as Run TMC. In the 1990-91 season, all three members averaged 22 points or more per game.
In five-plus seasons with the Warriors, Hardaway averaged 19.8 points, 9.3 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. During that time, he was a three-time All-Star and led the Dubs to the playoffs twice.
Tim Hardaway played in an era of basketball where point guards weren't known as big scorers. However, Hardaway was more than just a scorer. He was one of the best facilitators in the game. In his 13-year career, he averaged 8.2 assists, and he dished out at least 10.0 per game in three seasons.
When it came to shooting, Hardaway had the green light. He wasn't as good a shooter as Curry (nobody is), but he could get hot. When Hardaway did catch a rhythm, it was a long night for opposing teams.
Tim Hardaway averaged 5.0 3-point attempts during his playing days. It might not seem like much now, but in the '90s, players weren't letting it fly the way they do now. In that 1990-91 Run TMC season, the NBA team average for 3-pointers attempted per game was 7.1 (Hardaway was at 3.1). In 1994-95, Hardaway took 7.2 triples per game, and the overall team average was 15.3. This past season, the NBA averaged an all-time high of 34.6 attempts (Curry was at 12.7).
Shying away from shooting the 3 and passively taking it into the land of the giants was something Hardaway didn't do. He was as aggressive as can be, and his impact on the game still lasts.
When you look at Curry's game, you see some of Hardaway in him. He has one of the best handles in the NBA, and he will shoot as many 3s as he feels. They are two different players with similar mentalities.
Tim Hardaway certainly isn't the only reason Curry is who he is, but if you asked him, the two-time MVP would surely say he has studied the Warriors legend, and many other point guards in today's game would say the same.
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