When he played his last NBA game with the Denver Nuggets, a little more than one year ago - March 23, 2002 to be exact - Hardaway left after nine minutes with a broken bone in his left foot. It landed him on the injured list, where he spent the final 15 games of the season. At age 36, though he was ranked fourth all-time in 3-pointers made (1,531), was tied for seventh all-time in assists per game (8.3) and 11th in total assists (7,071), Hardaway accepted his fate.

There was no rigorous conditioning program to prepare for training camp, no fullcourt scrimmaging to keep his game sharp. Hardaway instead settled into a new career as a television basketball analyst with ESPN, but then the phone range and everything changed again.

The Pacers, needing able bodies at point guard, signed the veteran for the rest of this season on Thursday.

"Until they called, I thought it was over with - don't even consider it, don't even worry about it," Hardaway said after practicing with his new team for the first time. "But when they called, I was eager. I wanted to show them I could still run up and down and do the things I need to do."

With Jamaal Tinsley struggling mentally to cope with the death of his mother and backups Erick Strickland (ribs) and Jamison Brewer (shoulder) both injured, the Pacers have a pronounced need for an additional body in the backcourt.

The team chartered a flight to New York so players and coaches could join Tinsley at the funeral Thursday. He isn't expected back for Friday night's game against Chicago, which means there could be an opportunity for Hardaway to play right away.

"Basically, I've been wanting to play all season," Hardaway said. "I didn't go out the way I wanted to go out with the foot injury. Now, Donnie Walsh and Isiah (Thomas) want me to come here and be a veteran on the team, run the club when Jamaal comes out so it runs steadily. And they're a little bit banged up I walked in today and it was like, 'Jesus.' You've got Strick banged up with the ribs, Jermaine O'Neal with the shoulder injury, Brad Miller with the foot injury. They probably need a fresh mind in here."

Not to mention some fresh legs, which struck Hardaway as a humorous concept. This time of year, to him, has traditionally meant battling the fatigue that comes with playing a major role for heavy minutes.

"We'll see tomorrow what type of shape I'm in," he said. "No question I'm not in NBA basketball shape right now but I'm in good enough shape to sustain some minutes. I know that for sure. But running up and down, 5-6 minutes at a time at an NBA pace, that's probably hard right now but it will come with practice and with games.

"If you can play, you can play. I've been here before, so it doesn't matter. It's just like riding a bike, getting out there and doing what you know how to do - run a ballclub, make the right pass, play good defense, rebound and give your team confidence to win.

The Pacers don't expect Hardaway to be a savior for a team that has lost 15 of 19 games to fall from the top of the Eastern Conference to a tenuous fourth. But his presence could help shake the team out of its doldrums.

R. Miller

"When it comes down it, it's just basketball and he's a very good basketball player," said Reggie Miller. "He's going to make plays. He's going to make a lot of mistakes because I'm sure his timing is going to be off. But if he can just come in there and run the offense and hit open shots, it's what we know he can do."

Team President Donnie Walsh defined Hardaway's role as "insurance."

"Basically, insurance - the ability to come in the game or help us at the point guard position at different times and to be available if someone gets injured," Walsh said. "You never limit a player but that's the idea going in. If it develops better than that, it'll be the coach's decision."

Thomas expressed modest expectations, at least right away.

Thomas

"I like our team when it's here. When everybody's here, we're OK," he said. "But with Jamaal being out, Strickland being hurt, and going into the playoffs, you needed another backup at that position just in case. Last year, Jamaal got hurt in the playoffs. Tim being here is an added addition to our team. From a veteran standpoint, his savvy and smartness will definitely help us."

Hardaway has battled injuries throughout his career. He missed the 1993-94 season after major surgery to his left knee. In the previous three seasons, he missed a total of 40 games with injuries to his left foot and right knee.

This audition with the Pacers represents an opportunity to prove himself physically sound and capable of contributing beyond this season.

"You could say that," he said. "I want to put myself in a position where I can extend my career coming in here, playing these next 10-11 games and the playoffs. Then, I'll go from there."