With the No. 37 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the Dallas Mavericks selected guard Jaden Hardy from the G League Elite. It was a shrewd move according to many draft analysts as Hardy was a five-star prospect just the year prior and one of the top players in his class.
He opted to take the G League route instead of going to college so that he could better prepare himself for the NBA. A second-round pick likely wasn’t what he was expecting, but the Mavericks showed a lot of confidence in him, using a portion of their mid-level exception to sign him to a three-year guaranteed deal that he will earn just over $4.75 million.
Given his pedigree and the season that he spent playing in the G League, Hardy could surprise some people during his rookie season. One NBA scout that spoke to NBA Analysis Network believes that Hardy could be one of the biggest steals of the 2022 NBA Draft.
“By all accounts, Hardy has been great with the Mavs so far. He’s a talented guy. Legit catch-and-shoot threat and that’s a great starting point to have early in a career. Doesn’t lack for confidence either. As he continues to get comfortable against NBA talent, the things that made him pop as a high school player should start to become more of a factor as well. … Once it really starts to click with making reads out of ball screens, playing with pace, getting to his spots, he’s going to really take the next step. There’s a lot of potential there.”
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Hardy struggled with efficiency last season with the Elite team, as he made 37.6 percent of his shots overall and 30.9 percent of his 3-point attempts. Those struggles carried over to the Las Vegas Summer League, where he made only 34.7 percent of his shot attempts and 26.9 percent of his 3-point attempts.
The fact that he kept on shooting speaks to the confidence that the scout mentioned that he possessed. Being in a more structured environment with the NBA could also pay off as Hardy was great in his first preseason game.
LATEST NBA NEWS: Jaden Hardy, Luka Doncic & Dallas Mavericks Updates
The Detroit native scored 21 points in his debut, making 50 percent of his shot attempts and 4-of-9 from 3-point range. That is just a preview of what could come, as Hardy will benefit from playing under Jason Kidd, who was one of the best point guards the NBA has ever seen.
“He’s got a great support system in Dallas. I like Kidd as a mentor, that’s valuable for any young guard. He gets to benefit from playing next to Luka, too. That makes the game a lot easier for someone with real off-the-catch talent. Getting to learn from Luka on a daily basis is a great resource to have as well. … He won’t be just handed opportunities in Dallas. They’ve built a winning culture there and he has to earn it. That’s good for any young player. They’ll need it with Brunson gone”
There is certainly an opening in the backcourt when it comes to playing time with Jalen Brunson now playing for the New York Knicks. While Hardy may not have a prominent role in the rotation out of the gate, the opportunity will present itself for him to earn one.
LATEST NBA NEWS: Jaden Hardy, Luka Doncic & Dallas Mavericks Updates
Right now the only ball-handler projected to come off the bench is Frank Ntilikina with Luka Doncic and Spencer Dinwiddie slated to start alongside each other. If he continues playing at a high level in the preseason and putting in work at practice, Hardy will eventually factor into the equation for backcourt minutes as well.
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