Heat Legend Tim Hardaway Sr. Reveals Whether He’ll Allow His Son to Wear His Retired No. 10 Jersey in Miami

The Miami Heat have been stealing all the headlines this offseason. First came the blockbuster move to bring Giannis Antetokounmpo to South Beach, and then the Heat added Tim Hardaway Jr. on a one-year, $6.5 million deal in free agency.
While fans have been talking about how Hardaway Jr. fits into Miami’s new-look roster, another Heat legend has grabbed attention with a comment about the family’s famous jersey number.
Tim Hardaway Sr.’s Latest Revelation Regarding His Jersey Number
During a recent appearance on “The Hochman, Crowder & Solana Show,” Tim Hardaway Sr. was asked whether he would allow his son to wear the retired No. 10 jersey in Miami.
The Hall of Fame guard made it clear that he would not, as his legacy with the franchise means too much to him. Now, because of that, he would not want anyone, even his own son, wearing the retired number.
“You love your kids unconditionally, you know. My legacy is my legacy. He’s doing it his way. Even though he likes to wear 10, he loves to wear 10, but that is not coming down from the rafters.
“That is tough to do. Once it’s up there, you want it to stay up there. You don’t want nobody to touch it. I love him, you know. I love him to death. I’m the happiest for him. I’m living the life watching him play through college and in the NBA… So I’m happy that he’s doing it. But no, he can’t wear No. 10,” Hardaway Sr. said during the interview.
Hardaway Sr. joined the Heat in a mid-season trade from the Golden State Warriors in February 1996 and went on to spend six seasons with the franchise. He played in 367 regular-season games.
One of the best moments of his Heat career came in the 1997 playoffs, when he scored 38 points in a Game 7 win over the New York Knicks to close out the Eastern Conference Semifinals. That kind of performance is the reason the Heat retired his No. 10 jersey on October 28, 2009.
Now, Hardaway Jr. joined Miami at an interesting point in his own career. He spent last season with the Denver Nuggets, averaging 13.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. He also shot 40.7% from three-point range.
That kind of shooting could prove to be a major asset for Miami’s new roster. With the Greek Freak expected to be the focal point of the offense, having players who can consistently knock down outside shots will be important.
So while Hardaway Jr. won’t get to wear his dad’s number, he’ll suit up in No. 11 instead. It’s not the number his father made famous, but that doesn’t mean he can’t build something meaningful of his own in Miami.