By EVAN GROSSMAN

October 13, 2004 -- Anfernee Hardaway could go crazy thinking about what his NBA life might have been like, if not for the countless injuries and chronic setbacks that plagued him after he entered the league with worlds of potential as the No. 3 pick in the 1993 draft.

What if he hadn't gotten hurt all those times? What if he'd continued along the path of basketball greatness?

"I always wonder, 'What if?' " Penny said yesterday.

One thing's for certain: If not for the hard times he had to fight through, the 33-year-old probably wouldn't be with the Knicks right now and most certainly would not have been part of the trade that brought Stephon Marbury here in January for Antonio McDyess, Charlie Ward and several others.

More likely he would still be a franchise player somewhere, rather than the bench and role player he figures to be this season.

"I think he looks good," coach Lenny Wilkens said.

Hardaway may look good, but he is a different kind of player than he used to be.

"The biggest thing was, I don't have the athleticism," Hardaway said. "I'm not 21 years old anymore. I've gone through five knee surgeries, but I've regained a lot of what I used to have as far as just playing basketball on the floor, quick moves, first step and all that. Leaping ability is the only thing I don't have consistently, but everything else is legit."

Hardaway may not be the leaping, dynamic youngster he once was. But after going through the Charleston portion of camp without a hitch, after putting himself through a grueling off-season conditioning program, Penny's pumped to get the exhibition schedule underway tomorrow against the Nets in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

"I can't wait to see how I perform in a game-like situation against guys who, last year, I was way slower than," Hardaway said. "I couldn't move as fluidly as I can now. All the hard work I put in this off-season, we'll see how it pays off."

You could say that until the playoff series last year against the Nets, Hardaway was an unknown commodity to the Knicks. Before injuries took Allan Houston and Tim Thomas from the lineup, Penny was pretty much an intriguing throw-in to the Marbury deal, nothing more and nothing less. But during that series against the Nets, Penny averaged 16.5 points per game and provided stability on the floor.

"It gave me the opportunity to show the coaching staff and my teammates that I can still play and I can still help," Hardaway said.

It hasn't been an easy ride, but Hardaway is here and he can help the Knicks.

And what he's gone through in his sweet and sour NBA career is not lost on the coach.

"I think you got to give Penny a lot of credit for that," Wilkens said. "Nobody can control injuries. He's very strong-minded. He's worked through it. He's still an effective player, he can still contribute, and I think those are the things he focuses on."

i said at the time of the trade that Penny would be the X factor that makes that deal a steal for the Knicks...i'm banking on him to prove it this season...i think he's going to.

Penny is talking it up, but we need to see actions behind the words.

He is a pro, and he wants to play. He can't jump anymore, but he'll do just fine as our 3rd and 4th guard when Allan decides to join the dance.

But really, how many knew his off season training were going to restore his powers?

I really don't like to read all these articles that most likely are misleading. They hype everyone on the Knicks up. Then the season starts and we're around .500 and disappointed and someone that looked "great" in camp is shooting 29% from the field off the bat. I just hope Sweetney outplays Kurt in preseason and gets to start.

Posted by knicks1248:

I agree with all, Last year it was painful watching this guy shoot, I belive it was at a 29% clip ( as a knick in the regular season). He was almost as bad as shannon, missing countless wide open shots. Although he was pretty solid defensively, his offense was just short of horrific.

He shot 39% (not 29%). It's about the same percentage as guys like Iverson, Crawford, Q-Rich, Sprewell in his last season as a Knick. If you obsess over that one statistic, you miss the bigger picture about all these players' impact.

Penny and his talent-hurting injuries remind me a lot of LJ and his back problems which made him have to recreate his game. LJ was a smart player as is Penny and they know how to make up for their lack of athleticism, i do believe he could prove valuable. hes had to change his game and maybe now he is finally where he wants it to be.

penny is more valueable than most think. not just due to the fact that he can do so much to back up three positions, but his ending contract could 'and probably will' yield us something nice. maybe in the form of a center.

Penny IMO has to pull all of Magic Johnson's old tapes and try to model his game after him. Magic couldn't dunk mainly because of an achilles tendon injury that he suffered, Penny can be just as good. He has to forget about what he could do in the past, ne needs to utilize his current abilities. Jordan did the same thing in his couple of years with the Wizzards, he couldn't play above the rims either, but managed to be effective in other areas.

Lenny is going to try to use Lenny's full abilities. When we need ofense, look for a combo of either Marburry, Penny, TT, Sweetney, and Vinny

When we need defense, specially if the opposing team's PG or SG is dominant, look for Brewer, either Marburry or Crawff, TT, Kurt if he is still here, Naser.