“My skillset was higher than MJ”: Memphis HC Penny Hardaway makes bold claim about comparisons with Michael Jordan

Memphis Tigers coach Penny Hardaway waged memorable battles with the great Michael Jordan during his time in the NBA in the 1990s. The former Orlando Magic star made a bold claim about comparisons with "His Airness" in an interview with Memphis Grizzlies legends Zach Randolph and Tony Allen on their "Out the Mud Podcast," which premiered on Dec. 5.

Michael Jordan holds the MVP trophy and coach Phil Jackson holds the championship trophy after the Chicago Bulls beat the Utah Jazz to win their sixth NBA title. Photo: Imagn

Allen brought up the topic when he recalled Trevor Ariza’s previous statement that Hardaway was better than Jordan for a brief period from 1994 to 1995. The Magic reached the NBA Finals during those two years, with Hardaway’s team beating the Jordan-led Bulls in the 1995 Eastern Conference semifinals.

Hardaway didn’t shy away from Ariza’s statement about him. Instead, he made a case for why he thought some basketball players believed he was better than the sporting legend.

"I’ll say this because everybody can say MJ is the GOAT, right? But when you have guys who understand what they like in somebody’s game — playmaking, passing, shooting — my skill set is higher than that of MJ," Hardaway said.

"That’s probably why he’s saying I’m better than MJ from a skillset point of view."

Catch Hardaway's remarks starting at the 1:02:05 timestamp below.

Penny Hardaway expounded further on the Jordan comparisons and why he’s appreciative of Ariza for making that claim.

"MJ is the GOAT; I showed that love. Championships, MVPs, defense and all that. I would never bow down to any guy with my game. We’re going to war. I appreciate Trevor for saying that because he appreciated what I brought to the game," Hardaway said.

"I brought a lot to the game, and so when people said, ‘Man, you crazy,’ it’s from the point of view that you could be talking about skill set vs. full career and MJ being healthy and doing his thing, retiring and coming back, all that."

Looking back at Penny Hardaway's NBA career before move to become Memphis Tigers coach

Reaching the 1995 NBA Finals was the highlight of Penny Hardaway’s career with the Orlando Magic. The following year, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls gained revenge on Orlando, sweeping the Magic in the 1996 Eastern Conference finals.

Shaquille O’Neal left Orlando after the 1995-96 season, signing a seven-year, $120 million deal with the LA Lakers. Hardaway became the Magic’s franchise player, but a knee injury cut short his 1997-98 season. He was later traded to the Phoenix Suns, where more knee surgeries derailed his career.

Memphis' head coach Penny Hardaway and Tyrese Hunter (11) speak on the sideline during the game against Louisiana Tech at FedExForum. Photo: Imagn

Hardaway also played for the New York Knicks and the Miami Heat before calling it quits in 2007. The Memphis Tigers hired Hardaway as their coach in 2018, a job he still holds today. The Tigers have started the 2024-25 NCAA season with a 7-2 record.