"His attitude was on a million" - Penny Hardaway explains why Allen Iverson was different

Allen Iverson is one of the greatest scorers in NBA history. However, it was his unique playing style and unwavering confidence that truly captured Penny Hardaway's admiration.

To this day, Hardaway still vividly recalls how he watched in awe as the Philadelphia 76ers superstar effortlessly maneuvered around defenders, making even the most challenging plays look easy. At the time, it was clear to Penny that A.I. possessed a rare talent that set him apart from other players in the league.

"AI was different because he still was 6-foot, but he had like 7-foot arms, and then he had that ball on a string, and he can take and make tough shots," Hardaway said on All The Smoke in 2020. "He was athletic enough, he was fast enough, he was tough enough, and he was a tough shot taker, tough shot maker, and his attitude was on a million. Like [he] had that little man complex so hard like 'You can't tell me nothing. You're not about to stop me. I don’t care who you put in front of me.'"

Penny knew Iverson had a bright future in the NBA

In 1996, Iverson was the No. 1 overall pick of arguably the best NBA draft class of all time. Early on, A.I. was poised to become the league's future superstar.

While that might be true, Hardaway reckoned that Iverson was destined to be more than just the NBAs biggest draw. For Penny , "The Answer" had the talent, durability, and mental toughness required to have a lasting and stellar NBA career.

"Watching that live while I was already going through my thing, I was like, 'Aw, A.I. is coming, and he’s here to stay for a while,'" Penny concluded.

A.I. went beyond NBA superstardom

As it turned out, Hardaway was right about Iverson. Before long, A.I.'s strong personality and unconventional ways of conducting himself on and off the court made him arguably the most polarizing player of his time.

Despite facing numerous obstacles and criticism throughout his career, Iverson remained resilient and determined, never letting anyone else dictate his worth as a player. Along with success and fame, "The Answer" resonated with different audiences, making him not only an NBA superstar but also a cultural icon whose spirit is still felt in the modern times of the Association.

Related: Penny Hardaway admits he was jealous of what Shaq achieved with Kobe: “I felt like that should have been me and Shaq, it just didn't happen”