Some things you can’t shoot your way out of. 

Tim Hardaway was part of one of the original Big Threes, and the other two are in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Tim thinks he knows why he hasn’t joined them: his well-publicized rant from more than a decade ago, in which he said he hated gay people.

Hardaway was a five-time All-Star in his 13 seasons in the league.

He had career averages of 17.7 points and 8.2 assists per game.

His crossover move was legendary.

He teamed with Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin to form “Run TMC” in Golden State and lead the Warriors back to relevance with an exciting form of basketball. Mullin and Richmond are both in the Hall.

Via HoopsHype.com: 

“Well, you know, the reason I’m not in is because of what I said in 2007 about gay people. That’s why I’m not in right now, and I understand it. I hurt a lot of people’s feelings and it came off the wrong way and it was really bad of me to say that.”

Hardaway is talking about his infamous February 2007 interview on “The Dan Le Batard Show.” Former NBA player John Amaechi had recently come out as gay, and when Le Batard asked Hardaway how he would deal with a gay teammate, he said he wouldn’t want that person on his team.

“Well, you know I hate gay people, so I let it be known. I don’t like gay people and I don’t like to be around gay people. I am homophobic. I don’t like it. It shouldn’t be in the world or in the United States. So yeah, I don’t like it.”

After the comments, Hardaway was banned from the league’s All-Star festivities. He apologized, but it has been a long road to recovery for his reputation. He has worked with LGBTQ groups to raise awareness and secure rights and petitioned Florida to legalize same-sex marriage.

Hardaway, who was a Detroit Pistons assistant from 2014 to 2018, said making the Hall “would mean a lot,” but “there’s nothing I can do about it.”

“But, hey, I understand the ramifications of [what I said],” he told the publication. “I understand why I’m not in. All I can do is keep living. My parents also always told me, ‘You can’t control what you can’t control.'”

You live and you learn. 

Want More From Sports Gossip? 

For all the latest breaking Sports Gossip, be sure to follow SportsGossip.com on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.