MIAMI -- Retired Miami Heat guard Tim Hardaway said he's sorry for remarks he said on a radio show -- sort of.

On the show, Hardaway said he hates gay people and wouldn't want to play on the same team as a gay man.

As a guest on Sports Talk 790-AM The Ticket on Wednesday, Hardaway said: "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."

Hardaway said if he learned a teammate was gay, he would ask for the player to be traded or to be bought out of his contract. Hardaway said a gay player would make the locker room an uncomfortable environment for other players.

"First of all, I wouldn't want him on my team," Hardaway said when asked how he would deal with a gay teammate. "And, second of all, you know, if he was on my team, I would, you know, really distance myself from him."

Hardaway issued a statement Wednesday night to Local 10 saying: "There are more important things to worry about than my comments. We should be more concerned about President (George) Bush and all the people dying in Iraq."

Retired NBA center John Amaechi's recent announcement that he is gay sparked the radio show discussion. Amaechi, who played for the Orlando Magic and Utah Jazz, suggested there were others in the NBA living in the closet.