Penny Hardaway shares what made his first signature shoe with Nike so unique: 'I was already a sneakerhead'

Former Orlando Magic point guard Anfernee Hardaway was one of Nike's prized endorsers during the 90s. Hardaway captivated NBA fans with his dazzling plays and fancy passes. He also owned one of the most iconic signature shoe lines in NBA history.

During his recent interview with Zach Randolph and Tony Allen for the 'Out the Mud' podcast, Hardaway talked about signing with Nike and getting his first signature shoe with the Swoosh Brand.

"Getting with Nike, when you know you're getting a shoe, you're taking care of business," said Hardaway. "And Nike ain't just giving anybody no shoe so I was like, dude, this is crazy."

Hardaway turned down a $7 million offer from Converse

Penny was such a highly-touted prospect that several shoe companies wooed him when he first came to the league. One of those was Massachusetts-based Converse which reportedly dangled a $7 million deal to land his services.

Hardaway wore Converse sneakers in college because the brand was the official shoe sponsor of the University of Memphis Tigers. But while Penny rocked Converse shoes on the basketball court, he was a self-confessed Swoosh guy with several pairs of Nikes in his shoe cabinet. And so he ended up signing with Nike.

"So they brought me in, they were ready to give me a shoe, gave me a shoe, and I went crazy because I was already a sneakerhead. It was just a blessing to be able to get that and they rock with me. It's been the same way ever since. Now, just to see my shoes still out there, been retired since '08 bro, and still rocking like this, man come on."

The real story was a bit more complicated

The shoe that Penny is talking about is the Nike Foamposite. It's a shoe that has stood the test of time and continues to be a best-seller for the Swoosh brand. But the story of the Foams wasn't as simple as Penny told it to T.A. and Z-Bo.

Shoe designer Eric Avar told the story of how Penny plucked the attractive-looking Foamposite from a bag full of prototype shoes during a meeting. Avar said the Foams were supposed to be Scottie Pippen's shoe, but since Penny asked for it, Nike bowed to the wishes of the Orlando Magic guard who debuted it during the 1997 NBA Playoffs.

Originally, the shoe received a lukewarm reaction from the market because of its $180 price tag. But soon, sneakerheads fell in love with its futuristic design and with Penny's rise in the NBA, it became one of Nike's most iconic shoes. As Hardaway said, the Foamposite continues to be a hit today, not just as a shoe but as a cultural icon.