Penny had mixed feelings about becoming Magic's starting PG in his rookie year: 'It was kind of bittersweet for me'

Sometimes, players form connections that go beyond what happens on the court, and this was certainly the case for Anfernee Hardaway during his rookie season with the Orlando Magic in 1993-94.

At that time, the lottery pick initially played as a shooting guard alongside veteran teammate Scott Skiles, who took on the point guard role. As they grew closer on the court, their friendship deepened off the floor as well.

In fact, the bond became so strong that when Penny eventually replaced "Spunk" as the starting point guard, he found it hard to fully embrace the change.

"It was kind of bittersweet for me…I hated to lose Scott. They traded him to Washington and made me the PG, and that's when really my career at that point took off. But man, I hated to see Scott leave," remarked Hardaway while recently appearing on the "The Knuckleheads Podcast."

Rookie-veteran dynamic redefined

Rookies in the NBA often encounter a chilly welcome from veteran teammates. This reaction is understandable; vets have worked hard to secure their spots in the league, while their young counterparts are just beginning their careers and still need to prove themselves.

However, that situation, as Hardaway recalled, was different for him and the seven-year-older Skiles.

"He could have been an as***** about everything because it was like there is this new rookie, but dude was just a true professional, man," the 53-year-old remarked.

"Penny" also recalled how his veteran teammate was "all about business" and always led by example.

"He was one of the toughest dudes to ever get on that court because he wasn't the most athletic, he wasn't the fastest, but he would fight your as* the entire game, and he was so smart, high IQ," recounted the former four-time All-Star.

"Spunk" shaped a future All-Star

Skiles, who—quite fittingly—later became a head coach, was indeed a valuable mentor for any young player, especially for guards like rookie Hardaway at the time.

This rings true because, after a rough start to his NBA career with little playing time, Scott eventually made an impressive turnaround, winning the 1991 MIP title with averages of 17.2 points and 8.4 assists per game.

However, the Indiana native's performance eventually declined, and during the 1993-94 campaign, he lost his starting point guard spot to his mentee, who clearly recalls that moment.

Hardaway said that while he wished Scott, who left the Magic in the 1994 offseason, had stayed, he still felt "ready" for that responsibility and was determined to "kick the door in."

Penny did just that, making a real splash in the second half of his rookie season, finishing with averages of 16.0 points, 6.6 assists, and 2.3 steals per game. This earned the 6'7" player a spot on the All-Rookie First Team, marking a strong start to Hardaway's NBA career, which lasted until 2007.