Who is Jaden Hardy?
If you're not a follower of high school sports or a Dallas Mavericks fan, then you’re probably unaware of who Jaden Hardy is. In the second round of the NBA Draft, the Mavericks traded into position to select Hardy with the No. 37 overall selection, giving two future second-round picks to the Sacramento Kings. The move was surprising as the Mavericks moved their original pick at 26 in the trade for Christian Wood, and Hardy was predicted to be a top-25 pick.
Prior to his G-League stint, Hardy was a top guard in his class, averaging 30 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game in high school. He dominated teams, scoring at will wherever he wanted on the court. As a result, ESPN ranked him number one in the class for a period of time. Hardy has All-Star potential, and the Mavericks should allow Hardy to play a consistent amount of minutes next season.
Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, Hardy was unable to play his senior season, and later, he opted to skip college and head straight to the G-League. In 12 games played, Hardy led the team in points, averaging 17.7 points and 3.2 assists per game on 35 percent shooting from the field. However, Hardy fell on many boards because of his play, one of the dangers of the G-League route.
There is no telling if Hardy would have gone to college if his percentages had been better, but I think the time he spent in the G-League will be beneficial for Hardy. The ability to spend time training without worrying about school and adjusting to the NBA schedule while playing against NBA-level talent is a breeding ground for success. Needless to say, his play in the G-League did not impress scouts the same way his play in high school did, leaving Hardy as the final man in the draft room.
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Concerns about his consistency shooting the ball and wild play on offense, along with defensive issues, hurt his stock significantly. Scouts noted that Hardy can be a ball stopper on the offensive end, leading to bad shots and turnovers. However, his athleticism allows him to drive and score inside the paint consistently. Overall, Hardy is a solid prospect that can fix many of his concerns through experience and playtime in the NBA.
The 6-foot-4 shooting guard showed great potential as a scorer and the ability to create his own shot and score on all three levels. With Jalen Brunson leaving the Mavericks in free agency, there is a chance that Hardy will have an early opportunity to play a good chunk of minutes. When asked about his fit in the Mavericks offense, Hardy said, “I feel like my ability to shoot the ball, I feel like that translates right on, just me being able to come in and be an outside shooter. That takes pressure off Luka when teams are focused in on him, me being able to knock down those outside shots.”
Hardy will have to continue to improve his shooting percentages and work hard to become a solid defender against NBA talent. I think the Mavericks will be a great organization for Hardy to develop because he fits a need they hope to fill at the guard position. He won’t have major expectations when he first comes in and will have a season or two to find his rhythm and role in the Dallas system. Jason Kidd will be looking to see Hardy use good shot selection and play within the offense to improve his overall and outside shooting percentages.
In the G-League, Hardy got experience playing against pros and had this to say about his experience in the developmental league: “What I learned in the G-League is really how to be a pro, taking care of my body, from building good habits, staying after practice, getting those extra reps (and) being in the weight room every day. It just taught me how to be a pro and what it takes to be successful at this level.” Mavericks fans will be eager to see Hardy hit the floor, and while expectations won't be high, they will expect him to gradually improve. Dallas is great at setting a good pace when it comes to giving young players time to adjust and improve from season to season.
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Eyes will be on the Mavericks after their last playoff appearance, and with open minutes at the guard spot, I'm hoping to see Hardy play, and fans will be interested to see if the Mavericks can replicate their success.
