Tag: Jaden Hardy

‘He was great’: Mavericks’ Jaden Hardy emerges with another 20-point effort

Hardy continued a hot month of March and put up another 20-point performance in a loss to the Warriors.

Dallas Mavericks rookie Jaden Hardy continued a hot month of March on Wednesday and put up another 20-point performance in a loss to the Golden State Warriors.

Hardy produced 27 points, five rebounds, one assist, one steal and one blocked shot in 25 minutes of work off the bench. He went 10-of-18 from the field, including a career-high 6-of-9 from 3-point range, in the 127-125 loss at home.

The 37th pick scored 11 points in the fourth quarter and hit several key shots, including a layup to give the Mavericks the lead with 3:52 left to play. The Warriors pulled away late as Dallas dropped to 36-37 on the season.

Jason Kidd liked what Hardy gave the team, despite the loss.

He was great. Offensively, he was great. Defensively, he did his best, and he was really, really good. It just shows his growth and the minutes he deserves so he gave us a spark off the bench.

Hardy registered his seventh 20-point game of the season with the performance and his fifth in March. He is averaging 19 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists on 47.1% shooting from 3-point range in seven games during the month.

He is continuing to play with more confidence on a nightly basis.

I feel real comfortable out there just trusting the work I put in in the gym late at night. When I get out there, just staying poised and playing within myself and try to make the right plays.

Hardy has played sporadically this season but has produced when called upon. His latest run comes as Kyrie Irving has missed four games due to foot soreness.

Despite inconsistent playing time, Hardy has stayed ready for his opportunity this season. He has earned the trust of the coaching staff and his teammates when he is out there, and that has been evident over his recent hot stretch this month.

“He is going to be a great, great player,” Luka Doncic said. “He is already really good. I think sometimes he goes really quick. I just tell him to slow down but he listens and listens to me a lot. I think he is going to be really, really good.”

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Jason Kidd explains what Jaden Hardy brings to the Mavericks

With the Mavericks shorthanded, Hardy stepped up off and produced his best game of the season in a win over the Jazz.

With the Dallas Mavericks short-handed on Monday, rookie Jaden Hardy stepped up off the bench and produced his best game of the season in a win over the Utah Jazz.

Hardy recorded a career-high 29 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals in the 124-111 victory on the road. He finished 8-of-12 from the field, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range, in 25 minutes of work.

The 37th pick topped his previous season high of 25 points with the performance. His 29 points were the most scored by a Mavericks rookie since Luka Doncic (March 2019).

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd is happy to see his progress this year.

He is working. We’re going to have to get him some minutes here. Just the way he is playing, the maturity that he has on the floor, understanding of how to get to the basket. He gives us something that we don’t have and that’s speed. He is fearless of getting to the rim. He has shown that he can playmake, too.

The effort came when the Mavericks needed it the most.

Dallas agreed on Sunday to trade Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith and draft picks to Brooklyn for Kyrie Irving and Markieff Morris. In addition to being undermanned from the trade, they were also without Doncic (heel), Davis Bertans (calf) and Maxi Kleber (hamstring).

The trade sent shock waves through the league: The Mavericks now figure to be a contender in the Western Conference. It also brought a new level of excitement to the team.

“My first thoughts were it is going to be scary with him and (Luka),” Hardy said. “With him coming here, we’re looking to win ball games. We got a goal and that is to win championships so I feel like with him coming in, it is going to help us a lot.”

He also expressed his gratitude toward Dinwiddie and Finney-Smith for helping him throughout his rookie year. They often gave him advice and always made sure he was handling the transition to the NBA well on and off the court.

As for his new teammate, Hardy is excited about what Irving brings.

“He is never sped up,” Hardy said. “He gets to his spots, knows how to pick his spots. The way he can finish around the basket, get to his spots. (There are) a variety of different things to his game that makes him so special and one of the top talents in this league.”

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Fans are ecstatic the Mavericks kept Jaden Hardy in the Kyrie Irving trade

While Mavericks fans rejoiced at the chance of adding Irving, fans were also ecstatic that the team managed to keep rookie Jaden Hardy.

On Sunday, the Brooklyn Nets agreed to trade Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks just two days after the All-Star requested a trade out of New York.

The Mavericks will send Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a 2029 first-round pick and second-round picks in 2027 and 2029 to the Nets for Irving. They also acquired Markieff Morris from Brooklyn as part of the deal.

The trade was first reported by The Athletic.

Dallas’ championship odds improved from plus-2500 to plus-1200) as a result of the trade. Irving joins a core that includes Luka Doncic, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Christian Wood. They are expected to be one of the leading contenders now in the Western Conference.

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While the trade sent shockwaves throughout the league. Mavericks fans rejoiced over adding an eight-time All-Star. Fans were also ecstatic that the team kept promising rookie Jaden Hardy, the 37th pick last year.

Hardy, who has played sporadically this season, has shown he can contribute when called upon. He is averaging 5.6 points and 1.2 rebounds in 25 appearances, and he has scored in double figures six times, including a career-high 25 points on Jan. 15.

With the trade, Hardy could have a larger role in the backcourt behind Irving. He will have the opportunity to learn from Irving on the court as the 20-year-old gears up for the Mavericks’ playoff push over the last three months of the season.

Fans took to Twitter to express their happiness that Hardy wasn’t moved.

Rookie Power Rankings: Paolo Banchero reigns supreme at the halfway point

Rookie Wire took a look at the top first-year players over the last two weeks of the 2022-23 season.

The season is at the halfway point as most teams around the NBA have played at least half of their 82 games as the schedule heads toward a jam-packed lineup on Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

With the first half of the season in the books, the basketball community has received a great look at the current rookie class. While Paolo Banchero and Bennedict Mathurin have separated themselves as the top two players, others have had great performances, as well.

Banchero is the overwhelming favorite to win Rookie of the Year with Mathurin behind him in second. It looks to be down to those two players for the annual award, while the race to fill the two All-Rookie teams should be much more competitive.

To make sense of it all, we looked at the best recent performances of these first-year players and ranked them in the latest edition of the Rookie Wire Power Rankings. The rankings are not for Rookie of the Year purposes but, rather, to illustrate the best players week to week.

Jaden Hardy could become a permanent fixture in Mavericks rotation

Hardy produced a career-high-tying 15 points on Thursday in a loss at home to the Celtics.

Though the Dallas Mavericks saw their seven-game winning streak snapped on Thursday, the lopsided contest gave Jaden Hardy the opportunity to log extended minutes and the rookie dazzled on the court.

Hardy produced a career-high-tying 15 points, two rebounds and two assists in 15 minutes of work in the 124-95 loss at home to the Boston Celtics. He shot 5-of-8 from the field and made all three of his 3-point attempts off the bench.

With the Mavericks down 22 points late in the third quarter, head coach Jason Kidd opted to insert Hardy into the game. He promptly hit a 3-pointer in the quarter and then added 12 points while playing all 12 minutes in the final period.

“He was great. He played the right way,” Kidd said. “You gotta give him a lot of credit. I thought that group that was out there at the end played the right way. The ball moved, but Hardy was really good.”

The appearance was only the 12th of the season by Hardy; the 37th pick has mostly been buried on the bench. He has spent much of the season in the G League with the Texas Legends and has flourished with that group.

Hardy is averaging 28.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists on 49% shooting from 3-point range in 11 games with the Legends. He is third in the G League in scoring among all players and is one of 12 players with at least one 40-point game.

With some playing time with Texas, Hardy is staying ready for the opportunity to play. That time is helping him stay sharp on the court, which paid off on Thursday.

“I just continue to work,” Hardy said. “Going in, staying late at nights in the gym and going in early in the morning and just working on my game and staying confident in my abilities. I never once doubted myself or felt like I wasn’t good enough so I just continue to stay humble and stay in the gym and put in work.”

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His situation could begin to change for Hardy, though.

The Mavericks on Friday released 12-year veteran Kemba Walker, whose contract would have become guaranteed for the rest of the season on Saturday. According to Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News, citing a team source, the development of Hardy played a factor in the decision to waive Walker.

Walker, who was signed on Nov. 28, played in nine games, averaging eight points, 2.1 assists and 1.8 rebounds in 16 minutes. The departure of Walker could clear some minutes for Hardy and guard McKinley Wright IV moving forward.

Not playing for Hardy has been a difficult adjustment. He had started at every level up until this point, but is making the best of the situation and could find himself playing meaningful minutes.

“It is different because I’ve never been in a position like this so it’s my first time actually going through something like this,” Hardy said. “(I’m) just staying the course. It is a marathon so (I’m) just continuing to put in the work and I feel like everything will fall into place.”

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‘He has a bright future ahead’: Luka Doncic impressed with Jaden Hardy

Hardy put up a career-high 10 points in just two minutes of work on Monday in a win over the Suns.

Jaden Hardy logged just a tick over two minutes of action on Monday, but the Dallas Mavericks rookie made the most of that time in a win over the Phoenix Suns.

With the Mavericks sporting a healthy 21-point lead, head coach Jason Kidd opted to sub in Hardy for the final 2 minutes and 25 seconds. Hardy responded by producing a career-high 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field.

Hardy got into the paint seemingly at will against the Suns’ bench players and converted a couple of tough finishes. He also got to the free-throw line twice and converted both attempts.

“He got to play there at the end and he played well. He played the right way,” Kidd said. “Hopefully, we can continue to put him in those situations that are positive. There are things that we can always teach (like) trying not to foul when you’re off-ball, but he is young and is going to make some mistakes. It is always good to have him on the floor late in a game just to get him some minutes.”

The appearance by Hardy on Monday was his fifth of the season and second in a row. He logged six minutes of work on Saturday in a 21-point win over the New York Knicks and finished with five points and one rebound.

The 37th pick has primarily played in the NBA G League with the Texas Legends this season. He is second in the G League in scoring after averaging 29 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists on 48.2% shooting from 3-point range in nine games.

Luka Doncic is a fan of Hardy and has been impressed by him.

Being able to play in the NBA is amazing but I think he has a really bright future ahead. He has, obviously, shown that he can play even in the preseason and when he was practicing with us. He was amazing. He was hitting shots and making plays. He can really play.

The Mavericks’ plan for Hardy this season was to bring him along slowly, getting him a taste of the NBA. He has impressed in a limited sample size and has proven he can perform when given minutes.

The team loved the addition of Hardy and viewed him as a first-round talent. He proved a strong scorer last season with the G League Ignite and has shown that this year. Slipping to the second round could end up being a steal for Dallas.

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Mavs’ Jaden Hardy drops second 30-point game in G League

Hardy is one of six players with multiple 30-point games in the G League this season.

Dallas Mavericks rookie Jaden Hardy put up his second 30-point game of the season on Tuesday in the NBA G League to lead the Texas Legends to a comeback win over the Lakeland Magic.

Hardy produced a career-high 35 points, three rebounds, two assists, two blocked shots and two steals in the 122-120 win. He scored 14 points in the fourth quarter as the Legends overcame a 21-point lead in the period to win.

He is one of six players with multiple 30-point games in the G League.

The 37th pick shot 12-of-18 from the field, including 5-of-9 from 3-point range, in 32 minutes. He got to his spots seemingly with ease and was very efficient on offense. He even had perhaps the highlight of the game after dropping Zavier Simpson in the fourth quarter.

The 35-point outburst topped his previous season-high of 33 points on Nov. 5 versus the Austin Spurs. He has played very well during his seven appearances with the Legends this season, and is among the league leaders in multiple categories.

Hardy is averaging 27.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and one block on 47.5% shooting from 3-point range. He leads all players in the G League in scoring and is second in total 3s (29), fourth in field goals (64) and 12th in 3-point percentage.

The Mavericks loved the addition of Hardy and view him as a first-round talent. He proved a strong scorer last season with the Ignite and has shown that in a limited sample size this year. Slipping to the second round could eventually end up being a steal for Dallas.

Hardy is using his draft-night fall to No. 37 as motivation this season and is looking to prove wrong those teams that passed on him when he gets his opportunity. That could eventually haunt some teams.

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Mavs’ Jason Kidd explains development plan for Jaden Hardy

Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd explained what the team wants to see from Hardy to start the season.

Jaden Hardy has seldom played in the early going to start the season with the veteran-heavy Dallas Mavericks, but that philosophy is by design for the second-round pick.

Hardy entered the season with an uncertain role with so many established players ahead of him on the depth chart. He has totaled just 10 minutes of action across three appearances and has even been inactive for a couple of games, as well.

With playing time at a minimum, the team wants Hardy to learn how to be a professional. They opted to keep him around the team on their recent two-game road trip to get a feel for things in the NBA as he transitions to the league.

Jason Kidd explained what the team wants to see from him.

I think just being a pro, learning how to be a pro. He is taking the game plan that we’ve given him and he is doing a great job with it so far. He is doing everything. He is checking the boxes and he’ll get an opportunity but, right now, there are quite a few guys in front of him.

The team has sent Hardy to its NBA G League affiliate, the Texas Legends, in order to get consistent playing time and stay sharp. He is averaging 26.7 points, 5.3 assists, five rebounds and one steal on 44.8% shooting from 3-point range in three appearances.

The 37th pick turned in his best outing with the Legends on Nov. 5 after erupting for a season-high 33 points, five rebounds and four assists. He got to his spots on the court seemingly with ease and was also successful in driving into the paint and finishing at the rim.

Hardy is proud to see his hard work is paying off.

“It shows me that the work I’ve been putting in is showing,” Hardy told Rookie Wire. “I’m learning and taking it day by day, learning from the guys on the team, learning from the staff and coaches. I’m just trying to get better every day, get a lot of reps in so whenever my name is called I’ll be ready.”

Hardy credited Kidd and his teammates for helping him in the early going.

Those individuals around him have helped simplify the transition to the NBA so far. With players like Luka Doncic, Spencer Dinwiddie, Christian Wood, Dorian Finney-Smith and Tim Hardaway Jr. on the roster, Hardy has plenty of people he can turn to for advice.

They have been super big. They have welcomed me with open arms. Me just being able to watch them up close and ask them questions when we’re watching film and seeing how they work on the court and picking up new things. They have been super big and super helpful for my development. They push me, too. Having that and knowing that they care (is significant).

Hardy, like everyone, has marveled at the level of play by Doncic this season. Doncic leads all players in scoring after averaging 34.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 8.1 assists and two steals in 12 games. He has scored at least 30 points in all but two games.

Being teammates now with Doncic is still a bit shocking to him.

When you’re seeing it, it’s like, ‘Dang!’ It is mind-blowing just to be able to watch it up close and us being teammates now and being able to go up to him and ask him questions, it is super dope.

The Mavericks loved the addition of Hardy and view him as a first-round talent. He proved a strong scorer last season with the Ignite and has shown that in a limited sample size this year. Slipping to the second round could eventually end up being a steal for Dallas.

Hardy is using his draft-night fall to 37 as motivation this season and is looking to prove those teams that passed on him wrong when he gets his opportunity. That could eventually haunt some teams.

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Mavericks’ Jaden Hardy erupts for 33 points in G League

Hardy on Saturday put up his first 30-point game in the G League to continue a strong start to the season with the Texas Legends.

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.

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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Chet Holmgren, Jaden Ivey among 14 rookies to sign with Nike

Holmgren and Ivey were among 14 rookies to sign endorsement contracts with the Swoosh.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren and Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey on Friday were among 14 rookies to sign endorsement contracts with Nike, the apparel company announced.

Holmgren and Ivey, as top-five picks, were viewed as top targets for apparel companies as each player projects to have a bright future in the NBA. They both have worn Nike shoes in the past and will continue to do so after opting to sign with the Swoosh.

Related: No. 1 pick Paolo Banchero reacts to signing with Jordan Brand

Nike had a busy signing period with the incoming rookie class after coming to terms with 12 other first-year players. They signed 12 first-round picks and two second-round picks for the 2022-23 season after a relatively quiet class over the past few years because of the pandemic.

Here are the 14 rookies that signed with Nike this season.