Dallas Mavericks rookie Jaden Hardy put up his first career 30-point game while on assignment in the NBA G League on Saturday, continuing a strong start to the season with the Texas Legends.
Hardy produced 33 points, five rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block in a 127-122 loss to the Austin Spurs. He went 11-of-19 from the field, including 5-of-10 from 3-point range, in 34 minutes. His 33 points are the third-most in a game through the first two days of the season.
The 37th pick got to his spots on the court seemingly with ease and shot the ball very well. He was also successful in driving into the paint and finishing at the rim on several occasions to lead the Legends in scoring.
Issa career-night for @JadenHardy1 🤩
33 PTS | 5 REB | 3 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK pic.twitter.com/y1pYwSxWIk
— Texas Legends (@TexasLegends) November 6, 2022
The performance followed up a strong debut in the Legends’ season opener on Friday. He finished with 23 points, six assists, three rebounds and one steal in a win over the Spurs. Through his first two games, Hardy is shooting 50% from the field.
Hardy has totaled 10 minutes in two appearances with the Mavericks. He has not yet cracked the rotation for Jason Kidd, leading to his assignment in the G League. He will likely be with the Legends for much of the season barring injuries on the Mavericks.
The 20-year-old had a strong run with the Mavericks in the preseason, averaging 9.7 points, and has the tools to eventually be a contributor in Dallas. With playing time at a minimum, the G League will serve as a great opportunity for him to continue his development.
Texas returns to action on Nov. 12 vs. the Birmingham Squadron.
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