MIAMI, 9/17 The Miami HEAT has announced that it will retire Tim Hardaways number 10 jersey in a pre-game ceremony prior to the teams Oct. 28 season-opener against the New York Knicks. Hardaway will become just the second HEAT player to have his jersey retired, joining former teammate Alonzo Mourning whose number 33 jersey was retired on Mar. 30, 2009. The HEAT will honor Hardaway with a special pre-game video presentation and jersey retirement ceremony, where his jersey will be placed in the rafters alongside banners for Mourning and former team trainer Ron Culp and the HEATs division, conference, and NBA championship banners at the AmericanAirlines Arena.
"When you think about the Miami HEAT organization and the 20-plus years that the franchise has been in existence, there are always going to be those names that have helped develop the taproot and foundation for what we hope to be a long tradition of success here in Miami, said HEAT President Pat Riley. Alonzo Mourning was one. His jersey now is hanging from the rafters in the AmericanAirlines Arena. Tim Hardaway is another, who today we are proud to announce will have his jersey retired on opening night against the New York Knicks. We feel that Tim has been one of those building blocks and one of those players who has done us proud and we feel he is most deserving of having this special honor on this particular night."
During a sparkling 13-year NBA career, Hardaway was a five-time NBA All-Star and earned All-NBA honors on five occasions (First Team once, Second Team three times and Third Team once). He became the first player in HEAT history to earn All-NBA honors when he was chosen First Team All-NBA after leading Miami to a franchise-record 61 wins and its first-ever conference finals appearance during the 1996-97 season. Hardaway, who was selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1989-90, also captured a gold medal with the United States Senior National Team at the 2000 Olympics, where he teamed with Mourning, and also as a member of the 1994 U.S. World Championship team.
He appeared in 867 regular season games with the HEAT (1996-01), Golden State Warriors (1989-96), Dallas Mavericks (2001-02), Denver Nuggets (2002) and Indiana Pacers (2002-03) and averaged 17.7 points, 8.2 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 1.65 steals and 35.3 minutes while shooting 43.1 percent from the floor, 35.5 percent from three-point range and 78.2 percent from the foul line during his career. He finished his career with 15,373 points, 7,095 assists, 1,542 three-point field goals made and 1,428 steals. The Chicago native ranks among the NBAs all-time leaders in three-point field goals attempted (4th), three-point field goals made (7th), assists (13th) and steals (39th). Additionally, in 56 postseason contests he averaged 16.8 points, 6.8 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 1.57 steals and 36.6 minutes while shooting 39.3 percent from the floor, 32 percent from three-point range and 75.1 percent from the foul line.
Originally selected with the 14th overall pick in the 1989 NBA Draft by Golden State, Hardaway was acquired by the HEAT from the Warriors along with Chris Gatling on Feb. 22, 1996 in exchange for Bimbo Coles and Kevin Willis in one of the greatest trades in franchise history. He currently ranks as Miamis all-time leader in assists (2,867), three-point field goals made (806) and three-point field goals attempted (2,263). Hardaway, who played collegiately at University of Texas-El Paso, also ranks among Miamis all-time leaders in field goals attempted (4th-5,498), double-doubles (4th-95), points (5th-6,335), field goals made (5th-2,252), free throw percentage (5th-80.1%), steals (5th-541), double-figure scoring efforts (tied 5th-315), free throws made (7th-1,025), free throws attempted (8th-1,279), games started (8th-367), minutes played (8th-13,271), games played (10th-367), defensive rebounds (11th-1,004), total rebounds (13th-1,180), field goal percentage (16th-41.0%) and three-point field goal percentage (16th-35.6%). He also owns the HEAT single-season assist record, recording 695 during the 1996-97 campaign. Additionally, Hardaway ranks as the HEATs all-time postseason leader in three-point field goals made (80) and three-point field goals attempted (220).
The Miami HEAT is proud to welcome Assist-Card as the Presenting Sponsor for the 2009-10 season.