Ronald James, 42, has was arrested and charged with with theft of property by Memphis police Thursday. James is accused of stealing multiple boxes from Memphis coach Penny Hardaway’s home earlier this month and leaving with them in a shopping cart.
The alleged theft, which was caught on camera, included 26 pairs of exclusive sneakers made for family and friends, Hardaway told WREG. They included one-of-a-kind Foamposites, part of a line of Nike sneakers Hardaway made famous in his days as an NBA All-Star with the Orlando Magic.
It’s unclear if authorities recovered the merchandise.
A regular pair of Foamposites retails for around $200 on Nike’s website, but these custom versions made specifically for Hardaway and his family are likely valued far higher.
Nike and Hardaway’s partnership dates back decades. Last year the apparel company released a special shoe — the Nike Air Max Penny 1 Lester Middle School Editions — to pay homage to his former middle school. Earlier this year Memphis, Nike and Hardaway co-launched the “1 Cent” brand. The exclusive apparel line features the Memphis logo and includes t-shirts, long-sleeved t-shirts, hoodies and more.
Hardaway is a legend in the area after staying home to play his college basketball at Memphis State. He emerged as a star for the Tigers and went on to become the No. 3 pick in the NBA Draft. He moved into coaching in 2015, first at East High School in Memphis, Tennessee. He has been the coach at Memphis University since 2018.
