"They definitely would've taken C-Webb number one overall if I was not in that movie" - How Penny Hardaway secured a spot on the Orlando Magic with his role on 'Blue Chips'
penny-hardaway
The 1994 film Blue Chips was a massive hit for sports lovers because it was a fantastic take on what it is like for budding star athletes. Two basketball stars got cast for the roles of Neon and Butch, which was Shaquille O’Neal and Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway.
While this was mostly a fun movie for the cast, it became time to bond between Shaq and Penny. Since Hardaway was not yet in the league, O’Neal became enamored with the idea of playing with the Memphis University standout. The legendary center eventually recommended that Orlando use their first overall pick on Penny rather than Chris Webber, which happened through a trade.
“I was smart in this area; when I was doing the movie Blue Chips, I spoonfed Shaq. Whatever he needed, I didn’t think I took a shot, and I gave him the ball, it’s all about you big fella, and it worked,” Penny said on The Dan Patrick Show. “They definitely would’ve taken C-Webb number one overall if I was not in that movie. I did a good job of promoting myself and making sure the big fella was happy.”
The Shaq and C-Webb duo would have been crazy
Big Diesel was already the most impressive rookie in the 1992 Draft, but getting Webber the following year would have secured Orlando the most promising frontcourt in the league. Knowing both those players, they would have meshed well together, but their personalities might have clashed since they were both outspoken.
Despite those potential issues, O’Neal loved the idea of him playing alongside Webber and vice versa. Chris said he would have loved the partnership between the two. However, Big Aristotle changed his mind and urged the Magic front office to get the shifty guard instead.
Shaq said he did not want to play with Webber after returning home from the Blue Chips set. Since O’Neal was the star player for the Magic organization, they went with what he wanted, so they traded Webber to the Golden State Warriors to select Hardaway, leaving a sour taste in Chris’ mouth.
“That turned me off. My opinion is that it's no man's team. I don't care if it is Michael [Jordan] or Magic [Johnson]. They're the leaders, but the team is its own,” Webber said to SLAM Magazine.
Penny and Shaq were relatively successful together
O'Neal wisely backed Hardaway’s selection by the Magic, creating a more effective duo than he would have with Webber. Their natural point guard-center dynamic formed a formidable one-two punch, avoiding the potential congestion that might have occurred with C-Webb.
During their three seasons together, the Magic reached the NBA Finals once and the Eastern Conference Finals twice. Penny likened their partnership to Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of the 1990s. Despite their chemistry, they ultimately didn't secure a championship.
Shaq left and went to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he would become a three-time champion. Unfortunately for Hardaway, he struggled to bounce back from multiple injuries, leading to him becoming a role player in his later years in the league.