MEMPHIS – Outside of his family, teammates, coaches and the Mavericks’ front office, arguably no one will be rooting harder
for Mavs guard Tim Hardaway Jr. to win this season’s NBA Sixth Man Award than Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins.
From 2015-17 when Hardaway played for Atlanta, Jenkins was an assistant coach with the Hawks. That’s when the two developed a close bond.
Prior to the Mavs beating the Grizzlies, 120-113, on Monday night at FedEx Forum, Jenkins said Hardaway has a great chance of winning this season’s Sixth Man Award, and he also touched on their relationship when they were both working for the Hawks.
“It was awesome to work with him in Atlanta,” Jenkins said. (He’s) the ultimate pro. He had a really, really good work ethic. I think he’s continued to improve.
“Obviously, he knows his role and he’s embraced that the last couple of years. He has consistently come off the bench and has just been a game-changer for the Mavericks.”
Hardaway had nothing but high praise for Jenkins, who graduated from St. Mark’s High School in Dallas.
“Knowing coach Taylor in Atlanta and him being my assistant coach (with the Hawks), I know how he is as a person,” Hardaway said. “He’s all about playing hard and playing the right way and getting those guys moving and playing unselfish.
“We know what they do. It’s always respect when we come here and play against these guys.”
Hardaway has averaged 16.9 points in 27.7 minutes while shooting 38.4 percent from three-point range this season. Although Hardaway sat out Monday’s game against the Grizzlies with back tightness, Mavs coach Jason Kidd knows of his overall importance to his team.
“When you look at what Timmy’s done up to this point, he has been a big part of our success on both ends — offensively and defensively — when you talk about being able to shoot the ball and being able to get to the rim and accepting his role,” Kidd said. “And he’s playing his role at a very high level.
“I think he should be mentioned as one of the top candidates for the sixth man of the year for what he’s done up to this point. We believe that he can continue to do this for the rest of the season.”
Kidd also believes Hardaway will continue to give up his body and step in and take more than his fair share of charges.
“Defensively, he’s not one that’s going to block shots,” Kidd said. “But he’s there to take the charge, and then sometimes that goes unnoticed.
“But that’s big for us defensively to be able to get those stops.”
Kidd certainly didn’t have to do a selling job about Hardaway’s two-way talents to Jenkins.
“He’s a guy that’s on every scouting report with his three-point scoring ability, but just his dynamic scoring ability,” Jenkins said. “It’s really impressive to see how he’s just continued to improve his one-on-one ability to get his shot off. He’s got great size, great athleticism, great physicality.
“He’s continued to progress physically so he can take on the physical one-on-one defenses he’s going to see at times, because teams are going to try and run him off the three-point line. But he’s got a counter move with his handle and his size.”
And Hardaway’s attention to improving those handles has been something that’s caught Jenkins’ eye.
“It’s been awesome to watch,” Jenkins said. “This guy is a huge key to this team. I know injuries have kind of derailed him a couple of times in pivotal stretches. But when he’s on the floor he can be a game-changer for this team.”
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