Penny Hardaway
Another player whose greatness was taken away from us prematurely due to injury issues, Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway could’ve very well been the next Magic Johnson. The way that the 6’7 point guard could run an offense, pass the ball, shoot from anywhere, and defend four positions on the court was unprecedented in that era. But, a troublesome left knee substantially derailed his prime, and though he continued playing through 2007, he was nothing close to the superstar we saw when he was with the Orlando Magic.
In his retirement, Hardaway has pursued a few entrepreneurial ventures, including a barbershop and beauty salon in downtown Memphis and a turf business based in Miami. In 2012, he tried to purchase a minority share of the Memphis Grizzlies, as part of a group that included Peyton Manning and Justin Timberlake.