Tim Hardaway Jr.’s Rise as a Sixth Man of the Year Contender

Tim Hardaway Jr.’s Unexpected Ascent in Denver

To understand the remarkable story of Tim Hardaway Jr.’s emergence as an NBA awards candidate with the Denver Nuggets, one must look at the origins of his role within the team. Nuggets coach David Adelman made a deliberate choice to utilize Hardaway and fellow veteran Bruce Brown primarily off the bench, regardless of the game situation or any potential positional needs in the starting lineup. This unorthodox approach initially appeared to place younger players ahead of them in the roster hierarchy.

A Strategic Approach to Player Management

Adelman explained his reasoning early in the season, citing a desire to protect the bodies of both players and ensure they were fresh for the playoffs. “I didn’t want to play Tim 38 minutes a game. You can have your younger guys step in and take those first six minutes. It minimizes the minutes,” he stated. Beyond the practical benefits, Adelman had a strong intuition. “In my heart, I thought, ‘This is gonna be our bench when it matters,’” he continued. “And Tim and Bruce, I wanted them to play together as much as possible. Don’t break them up. Keep a rhythm.”

Hardaway’s Confidence and Impact

Hardaway himself embraces the role, stating, “The ball’s gonna come right back to you, whether you like it or not.” He has been a consistent performer for the Nuggets, especially coming off the bench, starting only five of his 70 games played. This consistency has propelled him into the conversation for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award – an accolade he admits is a motivating factor.

“If I was sitting here saying I wasn’t thinking about that, I would be lying,” Hardaway confessed. “When I came here, that was one of my goals. But also, it comes with team success.”

Statistical Excellence and Team Contribution

Hardaway’s case for the award is bolstered by impressive statistics. His recent 7-for-10 shooting performance against Toronto improved his season 3-point percentage to a career-high 40.9%. He’s on track to achieve a career-best in made 3-pointers and is among the league leaders in both volume and efficiency, alongside players like Kon Knueppel and Collin Gillespie. Jamal Murray believes Hardaway is deserving of recognition, stating, “Just scoring in bunches. Still playing defense… He’s doing a lot.”

Embracing the Role and Closing Games

Hardaway’s willingness to embrace his bench role has been crucial. He recognized Adelman’s vision for a potent second unit, something the Nuggets lacked the previous season. Adelman’s trust in Hardaway is evident in his willingness to close out games with him, a role Hardaway has excelled in, logging the third-most clutch minutes on the team behind Nikola Jokic and Murray.

The veteran guard’s confidence, as described by Adelman, is unwavering: “He firmly believes after he misses, the next five are going to go in. He is a green light player.” Hardaway’s commitment to team success is clear: “Someone has to sacrifice, you know? For the team, for everybody… embracing that role, knowing that (was) what I needed to do.”

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