“Timmy, don’t do that?”
“THJ, where were you passing that ball?”
“What a bad shot, Timmy!!”
These are general comments from Mavs fans on a typical Maverick possession where Tim Hardaway Jr. is involved. You will also find Mavs fans on Twitter say:
“How did THJ get that to go in?”
“Holy crap, Timmy, where did that come from?”
“I can’t believe TImmy got that charge!”
Tim Hardaway Jr. had 41 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 4 maddening turnovers, and at least 6 blow-bys in a game against New Orleans earlier this month.Okay, the last one is unknown, but you can imagine, right?
Over the last several years, it has been hard to trust Hardaway Jr. He is such an up and down player and at age 31, nearly 32, he is not getting any younger. This is who he is as a player and learning to trust him has been hard on me and other Mavs fans. He has broken hearts so many times. Here are some numbers for you:
2021-22- He played in 42 games and shot 39% from the field.. We make the playoffs and go to the WCF.
2022-23- He played in 71 games and shot 40% from the field. We miss the playoffs. He shot below 37% from the field in 34/71 (48%) games. We miss the playoffs.
2023-24- He played in 41 games this year and shot 42% from the floor. This year though, he has only shot below 37% from the field 10 times or in just 27% of games.
This is important for me as a fan, in learning to trust a player. This year he has been different. He has been more efficient and more importantly consistent, especially in January where he is shooting 45% from the field which would be a career high. Is this the new Tim Hardaway Jr, adding taking charges to his game? Is this the more consistent TIm Hardaway we have always wanted. I am still not fully there, but the difference this year for me has been moving me.
Tim has been on the trading block for years now and is still on the trading block. Him moving me more this year, doesn't mean I wouldn't trade him if I could. He is still a very frustrating player to watch for me, but it means that you have to give me more than what you did 5 months ago to consider it. I have been his harshest critic, but I am learning to trust the untrustable Tim Hardaway Jr.