We need to take it for what it is, without emotions. Yes, Abu Hanifa met with them, narrated from them, i.e. took ŽIlm from them. This makes them from his teachers in the strictest sense. Even today it is not uncommon that scholars have numerous teachers, the same holds true for the Imams of the Salaf. Obviously no one is saying that they taught him in the same way as Imam Hammad. There is also no shame in being a student of someone. Just as the majority of his knowledge might not have come from the Imams of Ahl al-Bayt, so too the majority of his Fiqh does not represent them. It is known that he supported Imam Zayd's revolt financially. And some of the Zaydiyah considered him from amongst their ranks in the looser sense. As for Imam Ja'far's supposed statement about Imam Malik, several things need to be taken into consideration. Firstly, it may or may not be authentic. If authentic, it does not exclude others, as the Imam encouraged them to turn to the scholars of Madinah, and upon insistance he recommended Malik specifically. He did not say go to Malik and him alone, rather to the ŽUlama of Madina. Imam Ja'far had students who were closer to him, took more from him etc, such as his son Imam Musa. Radiya'Allahu Žanhum. wa Allahu aŽlam.