Tim Hardaway Jr. Signs with Miami Heat as Father Blocks No. 10

Free-agent guard Tim Hardaway Jr. signed a one-year, $6.5 million contract with the Miami Heat. The deal adds a three-point shooter to a roster centered on Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, Hardaway Jr. will not wear his longtime No. 10 jersey because his father, former Heat star Tim Hardaway Sr., has kept the number retired. He will instead wear No. 11, which he previously used with the Dallas Mavericks.

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Tim Hardaway Sr. spent five seasons with Miami (1996-2001), earning two All-Star selections and All-NBA first-team honors in 1997 and second-team honors in 1998 and 1999. After being traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 2001, the Heat retired his No. 10 jersey in October 2009. No player has worn the number since.

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• Tim Hardaway Jr. – Guard, former New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks player, known for 3-point shooting.

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• Tim Hardaway Sr. – Two-time All-Star, former Heat guard, jersey retired by Miami.

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• Miami Heat – NBA franchise with a roster built around Giannis Antetokounmpo.

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Hardaway Jr.’s contract is one season at $6.5 million. He has worn No. 10 in college and parts of his NBA career, but the number is also retired league-wide by the New York Knicks (Walt Frazier) and Detroit Pistons (Dennis Rodman). Switching to No. 11 aligns with the number he wore in Dallas.

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Tim Hardaway Sr. told WQAM radio his legacy “is his legacy” and that the retired No. 10 “is not coming down from the rafters.” He expressed pride his son is joining his hometown team but reiterated the jersey will remain untouchable. The Heat has not issued a comment beyond confirming the signing.

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• “My legacy is my legacy, and 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,” — Tim Hardaway Sr., former Miami Heat guard, WQAM radio

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• “and when it's up there, you want it to stay up there and you don't want nobody to touch it. I love him. I love him to death. I'm happy for him. ... Now he's going to his hometown team. I never done that, and so I'm happy that he's doing it. But no, he can't wear No. 10.” — Tim Hardaway Sr., former Miami Heat guard, WQAM radio

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Hardaway Jr. is expected to contribute as a three-point shooter, complementing the team built around Giannis Antetokounmpo. Wearing No. 11, he will compete for minutes in a rotation as the Heat continue their campaign.

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