We had already seen him at the edge of the field a few hours before the start of Game 1 in Boston, chatting with his son, advising him and encouraging him. Tim Hardaway Sr. could not miss the event, with the presence of Tim Hardaway Jr. in the NBA finals for the first time in his career, at age 32.
The opportunity to measure the progress made and also to take the time to savor what the former leader, Hall Of Famer for almost two years, Olympic champion in 2000 with Team USA, has never managed to accomplish in 14 years of NBA career (1989-2003).
“He played on the biggest stage in college losing to Louisville in the final (with Michigan in 2013). And here he is in the NBA Finals now. “He's where I've tried to get to as a college basketball player and as a professional, it means a lot to me.”, admitted Tim Hardaway Sr.his son's first supporter from the start.
Make the most of the moment
Despite his fluctuating role in these playoffs, the Mavs winger is also relishing this new stage of his career after having come close to this dream two years ago, when Dallas lost in the conference final against Golden State, future champion. The player was then recovering from a foot injury contracted at the end of January, already against the Warriors, and was unable to help his teammates, beaten 4 victories to 1.
“If we had reached the final, it would have been possible for me to come back. But we didn't go that far. Before each match, I trained on the pitch for 30-40 minutes before the players arrived. I was just preparing myself in case that happened.”
Obviously, Tim Hardaway Jr therefore addressed this last deadline “happy and enthusiastic”therefore with the support of his father as a particular advisor in order to prepare him as best as possible, and to keep in mind that this opportunity sometimes only comes once in a career… Sometimes never.
“With my father, we always talk about situations like that in the NBA, where players sometimes don’t have the opportunity to get that far”he admitted. “So just to be able to get there, and to have these discussions, it's a great experience and to be able to do it while being healthy, 100%.
The reward for years of sacrifice
Contrary to what one might think, Tim Hardaway Sr did not try everything to get his son to take the same path as him. It was Tim Hardaway Jr's determination, diligence, seriousness and passion that made him the player he became. His role took another turn when he moved closer to the NBA.
“I didn’t push him toward basketball because I played it. It's a choice, and it's always your choice that takes precedence. When he started playing as a kid, if I had said I saw my son making it in the NBA, I would have been a f***ing liar.”added the father. “It’s something that requires hard work, determination. He had to put in the work, put in the hours, and go through all the things that I also went through to get there, and that's what he did. This is why he is always prepared and ready (…). He was always attentive, always ahead, always respectful, and there to play his game, and progress from there.”
The result of his long years of sacrifice has finally paid off today, with perhaps at the end of this adventure a champion's ring as the ultimate consecration. In the meantime, Tim Hardaway Jr is keeping his father's advice in mind to savor every second.
“Enjoy it, have fun, be aggressive when called upon and just be prepared, you never know what can happen”he repeats to her. “You've played in the playoffs many times before, and you've had success on those occasions. So, when the opportunity is given to you, go for it, make your contribution, have fun and don't worry about the rest.”
So what happens will happen, but one thing is certain, Tim Hardaway Jr will be able to count on the unfailing support of his father, who will not be far away for Game 2 this evening. “I’m fully behind him. I look at him, he's my guy. I'm from the Hardaway crew“, he said. “He worked so hard to get there and be in this position. I’m very happy for him.”
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2013-14 | NYK | 81 | 23 | 42.8 | 36.3 | 82.8 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 10.2 |
| 2014-15 | NYK | 70 | 24 | 38.9 | 34.2 | 80.1 | 0.2 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 11.5 |
| 2015-16 | ATL | 51 | 17 | 43.0 | 33.8 | 89.3 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 6.4 |
| 2016-17 | ATL | 79 | 27 | 45.5 | 35.7 | 76.6 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 14.5 |
| 2017-18 | NYK | 57 | 33 | 42.1 | 31.7 | 81.6 | 0.6 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 2.7 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 17.5 |
| 2018-19 * | All Teams | 65 | 32 | 39.3 | 34.0 | 84.1 | 0.5 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 18.1 |
| 2018-19 * | NYK | 46 | 33 | 38.8 | 34.7 | 85.4 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 3.5 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 19.1 |
| 2018-19 * | DAL | 19 | 29 | 40.4 | 32.1 | 76.7 | 0.4 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 15.5 |
| 2019-20 | DAL | 71 | 30 | 43.4 | 39.8 | 81.9 | 0.4 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 15.8 |
| 2020-21 | DAL | 70 | 28 | 44.7 | 39.1 | 81.6 | 0.3 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 16.6 |
| 2021-22 | DAL | 42 | 30 | 39.4 | 33.6 | 75.7 | 0.3 | 3.4 | 3.7 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 14.2 |
| 2022-23 | DAL | 71 | 30 | 40.1 | 38.5 | 77.0 | 0.3 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 14.4 |
| 2023-24 | DAL | 79 | 27 | 40.2 | 35.3 | 85.2 | 0.3 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 14.4 |
| Total | 736 | 27 | 41.8 | 36.0 | 81.2 | 0.3 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 14.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
