Miami Heat Legend Tim Hardaway Apologizes 15 Years After His ‘I Hate Gay People’ Comment: “It Was So Wrong Of Me…”

3 Min Read

Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

In today’s digital media world, comments from years ago can really come back to bite you. For NBA legend Tim Hardaway, that’s exactly the situation he now faces after one of his old quotes recently caught some attention online.

In a recent interview with Ron Kroichick of the San Francisco Chronicle, the 55-year-old former hooper looked back on his past and reflected on his most regrettable and disagreeable statement.

Hardaway seldom explained why he felt that way 15 years ago and how the fallout hasn’t faded. This month, in an extended phone interview with The Chronicle, Hardaway elaborated on the roots of his previous views and how those long-ago remarks affect his life today.

“I grew up in a church, and that’s the way churches were — they instilled in you that (homosexuality) wasn’t the way you should be,” Hardaway said. “I was just taught differently. Don’t talk to them, don’t mess with them, leave them alone. I never tried to talk bad about them or do hateful stuff. It was just my upbringing in church. But I’ll tell you this: It was so wrong of me, and people have suffered. I had to grow up and really do some soul-searching. What I said was just hurtful.”

Hardaway backtracked slightly later in the interview, saying he doesn’t blame the church and “it’s on me, too.” But he was more forceful about the impact his comments have had on his post-NBA playing career.

The incident in question happened back during a 2007 interview, when Hardaway admitted to being homophobic. 

Fifteen years later, Tim Hardaway’s words still reverberate in the world around him. They shadow him, torment him, stubbornly refuse to disappear.

“I hate gay people … I don’t like to be around them … I am homophobic.”

Unlike a lot of celebrities who fake an apology to save their career, Hardaway seems genuinely sincere here. We are all a product of our environment, and Hardaway was clearly instilled with a very particular set of beliefs.

Credit to him for not only growing out of that but also for owning up and acknowledging his past mistakes. That act alone sets him apart from other scandal-ridden athletes. 

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Nico Martinez is a veteran staff writer for Fadeaway World from Brooklyn, New York. He joined Fadeaway World in 2016 and is currently residing in Columbia, South Carolina. Nico holds a degree in Sports Management from Columbia International University where he built a strong foundation in the inner workings of sports media and management. Nico's contributions have significantly enhanced the credibility and depth of Fadeaway World's content, earning him recognition across the sports journalism community. His work has been discussed in prestigious publications like Sports Illustrated. A dedicated follower of LeBron James, Nico often leads coverage on news related to the basketball star. With nearly a decade of experience in sports journalism, Nico consistently provides comprehensive and timely basketball news, engaging a wide audience of basketball enthusiasts.Nico's most desired player to interview, past or present, is Kevin Durant. He is particularly keen on asking Durant if he has any regrets about his career, especially concerning his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and why he engages so much with fans on social media. 
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