Dallas Mavericks' Jaden Hardy ready to be an 'everyday player' in his second season
Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison explained that in year two, he expects Jaden Hardy to be an everyday NBA player.
DALLAS — When Nico Harrison spoke of Dallas Mavericks rookie Jaden Hardy, it was a rare moment with which the cerebral front office executive appeared emotional.
The Mavs took a flyer on Hardy with the 37th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. He then spent the start of his rookie year jostling between the NBA G League and sitting on the bench during Mavericks home games. And then things started to change. He cracked the rotation, playing sporadic minutes, earning Mavs head coach Jason Kidd's trust.
Hardy ended the year appearing in 48 games, and he averaged 8.8 points per game. In the five games Hardy started, his averages jumped to 21.2 points and five rebounds per game. Hardy showed flashes of potential. He can be a player that provides instant offense, regardless of the role he plays. And in his second season, Harrison hopes Hardy can become an everyday NBA player.
"Oh, my goodness. Amazing," Harrison said of Hardy's growth this season. "[He was the] 37th pick. Started in the G League, [then] to where he ended the season – just amazing.
"Literally month-to-month, you saw that guy progress. I think he's going to continue to grow. He's a gym rat. Literally, if you go month-to-month and watch his progression, you can almost see it like a bar graph and I think he continues that path because he's going to be in the gym. That's just the type of kid he is."
When Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving battled injuries throughout March, it was Hardy who stepped up. He averaged 15.6 points in 24 minutes per game, which included six 20-plus point games.
For the success, Hardy credited what he learned during his time in the NBA G League. Going back and forth taught him how to stay ready, even when it is difficult, he said. And as he waited for his opportunity to prove himself, the G League offered him live in-game reps that only made his transition to full-time NBA work easier.
"Mentally, it was a lot of ups and downs for me just being back-and-forth, trying to stay poise, and not really letting it get to me to continue to grow my game," Hardy said. "Looking back at my rookie season, it's been a good season."
It is growth Harrison has noticed. He mentioned Hardy in the same breath as Josh Green as players the Mavericks don't have to worry about heading into the summer. The organization knows Hardy's work ethic. And the Mavericks trust that, in year two, Hardy's leap forward will be memorable.
