Coaches had different ways of punishing players who violated internal or external rules. Some reduce playing time while others slap fines as a way of discipline. Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway imposes a fine on forward Aaron Bradshaw for minor infractions, including violating the dress code and arriving late. Hardaway said it is a way to motivate the big man to perform better in games. Fans have expressed their reactions to the Tigers coach’s act, with some questioning whether it is even legal according to league rules.
Fans React To Penny Hardaway’s Actions On Aaron Bradshaw
Penny Hardaway’s punishment of Aaron Bradshaw was initially revealed during the broadcast of the Tigers’ game against Vanderbilt on Wednesday. They discussed how Hardaway pushed the 7’1″ forward to play better every game.
The commentators stated, “Aaron Bradshaw has played for some great coaching staffs, but they haven’t figured out how to motivate him, so Penny Hardaway found a way to motivate Aaron Bradshaw. He started taking his NIL money away.”
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“He said, ‘I fined him for showing up late. I fined him for violating our dress code. Three grand here, three grand there. Guess who started to show up early? Guess who started to put the effort in?” they added.
The anecdote sparked debate among fans, with one inquiring, “Is this legal?”
Another college basketball enthusiast called on sports journalist Pablo Torre to investigate and report whether it is acceptable to impose sanctions on players for minor offenses, even if it’s for the benefit of the player involved.
“@PabloTorre can you please Find Out if this is even legal? I would look at one of these NIL contracts but I think they’re all FERPA protected and not subject to FOIA,” the fan wrote.
A fan then asked where the fines against Bradshaw went after this.
“Fined him? Where did the money go,” he questioned.
The commentators said the proceeds of the fine go to his teammates, who work their best to gain playing exposure.
“He (Hardaway) takes that fine money and puts it back in the bucket and has some guys further down the roster reaping the cash benefit of those fines,” they added.
A cage junkie, on the other hand, says it’s too much for a player to bear and hopes that there’s a union that would check on these actions.
“Fines without the ability to appeal them through a union shows how much unchecked power coaches still have over these kids. Too much,” he said.
Another fan expects this to set a precedent for a possible future case, as some players may cry foul and take the incident to court.
“Maybe not for Bradshaw, but down the road with someone else, this is going to wind up in court. Schools and conferences need to come to their senses and agree to collective bargaining,” he opined.
Memphis is Bradshaw’s third team after Kentucky and Ohio State. In 10 games, the Rahway, New Jersey native averages career-highs of 7.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. However, the Tigers are off to a 4-7 start, and they would need to intensify their efforts in conference play to improve their team standings and secure a ticket to the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
