Former NBA star Tim Hardaway Sr. recently spoke out about Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd’s decision not to play his son, Tim Hardaway Jr., during last season’s playoffs.
Hardaway Jr. had been a key contributor for the Mavericks, averaging 14.4 points and 26.8 minutes per game in the regular season.
However, during the playoffs, his role drastically diminished, with his minutes dropping to just 12.7 per game. Hardaway Jr. averaged 4.4 points and 1.8 rebounds during the Mavericks’ postseason run, which ended in the Finals against the Boston Celtics.
His father, Tim Hardaway Sr., shared his frustration during an appearance on the All The Smoke podcast.
“As a pops, it’s tough knowing that your son’s supposed to be out there,” Hardaway Sr. said.
He expressed his confusion over the lack of communication from Kidd and Mavericks GM Nico Harrison regarding his son’s reduced role.
“For some reason Jason Kidd and Nico are not telling nobody what’s the deal,” Hardaway Sr. stated.
The former NBA star pointed to his history with Kidd, as the two were teammates on the 2000 USA Olympic team.
He said it was difficult to understand why Kidd hadn’t explained his decision to his son directly.
“I played with you on he 2000 Olympic team we got gold together We all in this fraternity together and you don’t have the dignity to go to my son and just say this X, Y, Z, this is why I’m not playing you,” Hardaway Sr. added.
He also defended his son against criticism for not shooting well during his limited postseason appearances.
“First of all, you got to get the ball,” Hardaway Sr. said, implying that Luka Dončić’s dominant role in the offense limited his son’s opportunities.
“Luka running the whole show there,” Hardaway Sr. remarked, suggesting that the team’s reliance on its star player affected Hardaway Jr.’s performance.
Hardaway Sr. shared how he supported his son throughout the playoffs, encouraging him to stay positive.
“I was there talking to him, I was there consoling him, I was there just like a father supposed to be,” he said.
The Mavericks’ failure to communicate their decision only added to the frustration for both Hardaway Jr. and his father.
Tim Hardaway Jr.’s time with the Mavericks came to an end on July 6, 2024, when he was traded to the Detroit Pistons.
