Father knows best: Tim Hardaway Sr. denies son's request

Hall of Famer Tim Hardaway is proud that the Miami Heat retired his No. 10. So proud that he won't even let his own son wear it.

Tim Hardaway Jr. agreed to a deal with his father's old team on June 30, but he'll have to change his preferred jersey number. The Heat retired his dad's number in Oct. 2009 and Senior declared Wednesday that it's "not coming down from the rafters."

Tim Hardaway Jr. has a popular number

The younger Hardaway wore No. 10 in college at Michigan, as a tribute to his father. Unfortunately, No. 10 may be his father's number, but it's not unique among all-time greats. Hardaway couldn't wear the No. 10 for the Detroit Pistons because it had been retired for Dennis Rodman, nor for the New York Knicks because it was Walt Frazier's retired number.

Perhaps Tim Junior thought it might be different if the retired number had been worn by his blood relative. His father went on WQAM in Miami to nip that idea in the bud.

"Even though he loves to wear 10, that is not coming down from the rafters," the elder Hardaway declared. "I love him. I love him to death. I'm happy for him. ... But no, he can't wear No. 10."

Tim Hardaway Jr. hoping for more Miami magic

When the elder Hardaway went to the Heat in 1996, he helped turn around a middling franchise. He led the team to the playoffs and only their second-ever winning season, then finished fourth in the MVP voting in 1996-97 as the Heat won 61 games and reached the Eastern Conference Finals.

The younger Hardaway isn't at his father's level as a player, but he's been a valuable role player for some very good teams in recent years.

Hardaway, Jr. averaged 14.4 points for the Dallas Mavericks when they went to the 2024 NBA Finals. He joined the Detroit Pistons and started 77 games as the team improved by 30 wins and made the playoffs. Last season, he shot 40.7 percent on three-pointers for the 54-win Denver Nuggets and finished third in Sixth Man of the Year voting.

The Heat desperately need his outside shooting after trading multiple players for Giannis Antetokounmpo and seeing Norman Powell leave in free agency. This Hardaway may not ever see his jersey in the rafters, no matter what number is on it, but the Heat hope he can help them raise another banner instead.