A year ago, Jaden Hardy was getting all his ducks in a row and preparing for a life-changing moment.
It was the 2022 NBA Draft. And Hardy was projected in some corners to become a first-round draft pick.
“I didn’t know what team I was going to be drafted to,” Hardy told Mavs.com. “And I didn’t know where I was going to be drafted.”
As it turned out, Hardy incredibly slipped into the second round of the draft where he was chosen by the Sacramento Kings with the 37th overall pick. But his stay with the Kings was short-lived, as Sacramento collected a pair of second-round picks in a draft night trade that sent Hardy to the Dallas Mavericks.
Dropping out of the first round was fuel Hardy used to become one of the steals of the draft while having a solid rookie season with the Mavs.
“I just used it as motivation and I continued to keep working hard,” Hardy said. “I continue to work on my game and proving the doubters wrong.”
Hardy averaged 8.8 points in just 14.8 minutes last season while shooting 43.8 percent from the field and a robust 40.4 percent from three-point range. Affectionately known as a bucket-getter due to his penchant for scoring a lot of points and flying up and down the floor in a short period of time, the 6-3, 198-pound guard played in 48 games last season for the Mavs and started five of those.
Asked during his exit interview in April what’s a reasonable goal in terms of a role for Hardy next season, Mavs general manager Nico Harrison said: “An everyday player. I think that’s reasonable. A rotation player.”
It’s obvious that Hardy and Harrison are on the same page. When asked what his primary goals are for next season, Hardy said: “I see myself in the rotation and trying to help this team win. That’s what my goal is.”
To make that goal become a reality, Hardy has used the gymnasium as his private oasis this summer.
“I’ve just been in the gym working out,” he said. “I’ve been here in Dallas working out the last five days a week.
“I’ve been working on my body, getting stronger, getting faster. I’m just working on my game.”
Hardy will get an opportunity to enhance his game when he and the Mavs participate in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, which is from July 7-17. The summer league starts 15 days after Thursday’s NBA Draft.
In Hardy’s summer league debut in Las Vegas last year, he tallied 28 points during a 100-99 loss to the Chicago Bulls.
“Going into next se
ason I want to continue to polish my game,” said Hardy, who turns 21 on July 5. “I want to make the right plays, continue to make the right reads.”
In addition to his summer league work, Hardy also will have another free basketball camp for youths on Sept. 16 at Shelton School in North Dallas. Over 100 youths attended the free camp he staged last year.
As far as next season goes, Hardy has a warm message for Mavs’ fans.
“I’m super excited,” he said. “I can’t wait to get back out there and put on a show for the fans.
“I know my teammates are super excited, too, and ready to get out there and put on a show.”
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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