Luka Doncic endorses Dallas Mavericks rookie Jaden Hardy's development
Luka Doncic saw the potential in the young man, he just didn’t know how good he could actually be.
Breaking out of a rut, the Dallas Mavericks put together a 127-104 win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday in Indiana.
Shining in the showing was the usual cast of characters Luka Doncic, who scored 25 points, and Kyrie Irving, who pitched in with 16 of his own on 11 shots. But the surprise of the night was Mavericks rookie Jaden Hardy, who scored 20 points off the bench and continued to show just how important his microwave scoring will be in the final six games of the season.
Hardy's ascension as a primary off-the-bench bucket-getter coincides with a moment when the Mavericks need an additional offensive threat. Doncic has taken notice of the 20-year-old's propensity to rise to the moment.
“Since the beginning of the season, I saw his potential, even in the preseason,” Doncic said. “But his improvement through the season was insane.”
High praise for the rookie from the Mavericks' leading man.
But, when you take a look at the numbers, it is deserved.
During the season, Hardy has played 19 games where he has received over 15 minutes. In those contests, he is averaging 15.2 points per game, 2.2 assists on 47 percent field goal shooting, and 46 percent 3-point field goal shooting.
Hardy's per-36 numbers are even more impressive. He is averaging 21.7 points per game and 3.1 assists on 43 percent field goal shooting.
The Mavericks found a player that can give them instant offense in Hardy. And with him, Dallas is a better ball club. His ability to get hot in mere moments makes the Mavericks' offense dynamic in a way it is not when they only have Doncic and Irving firing.
Hardy has played 17 minutes in eight of 10 games for the Mavericks. During that same stretch, he has logged five 20-point games. He holds seven total. And throughout March, Hardy is one of four rookies to average at least 16 points, placing him in the air of other lottery picks contending for the Rookie of the Year award.
It is hard to believe he is the same player the Mavericks had toiling away in the NBA G League in December. When Dallas' offense lacked flair at the start of the season, and many were questioning who the additional ball handler was going to be, Hardy waited patiently.
He knew his time would come. And he's stayed true to his development process.
As a result, he is enjoying his moment in the limelight. And as the sun sets on another Mavericks season, the playoffs still within reach but somehow feel distant, Hardy is aspiring to be one of the reasons the Mavericks keep competing.
"Playing with both of them, they give me confidence," Hardy said. "Just all in my ear trying to help me just asking what they see out there when I'm on the floor."
Somehow, Dallas may have its own diamond in the rough.
