Tim Hardaway Jr. was the New York Knicks' first round pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. Choosing 24th in any draft, the chances of receiving a solid rotation player aren't great. But the Knicks took a chance on the shooting guard from Michigan and made a very, very good choice in Tim Hardaway Jr. Let's take a look at Hardaway's season in review.
Season averages(81 games played, 1 start): 10.2 PPG, 42.8% FG, 36.3% 3PT, 12.7 PER, 23.1 MPG
The Good
The good for Tim Hardaway Jr. is simply how good he played on the offensive end this season. With his perfect shooting stroke, amazing athleticism and energy off the bench, he became a fan favorite in New York this season.
Hardaway's best game was on January 30, where he scored a career-high 29 points in a blowout win at Madision Square Garden. He also tied a Knicks rookie record with six three-pointers.
Tim finished fourth in points per game (10.2) and three-point percentage (36.3%) among rookies this season, and also hit three or more three-pointers 17 times during his rookie season. That was good enough for him to finish fifth in the 2014 Rookie of the Year voting.
Via Synergy Sports, the Knicks rookie out of the Michigan averaged 1.31 points per play in transition and 1.03 in spot-up situations. Hardaway was great in both of those areas this year and his teammates gave his credit.
“He’s played well for us. I mean, Tim had a pretty good rookie season, he shot the ball extremely well from the three, very consistent, puts in the work,” Knicks power forward Amar’e Stoudemire said following Hardaway Jr.’s rookie campaign.
The Bad
While Hardaway was great offensively in his first year, he struggled a lot on the defensive end. Tim struggled to stay in front of more athletic shooting guards and often put more pressure on Tyson Chandler to protect the paint.
He may never become a "lock down defender," but he still needs huge improvement on the defensive end either way. Tim is a huge liability on defense. Via Synergy Sports, Hardaway Jr. finished 441st in defense this season, letting players shoot 43 percent from the field on him.
Outside of his defense deficiencies, Tim needs needs to become a multi-dimensional player. Hardaway's weaknesses can be improved especially if his next coach is willing to work with him.
Conclusion
Looking ahead, Hardaway's future is really bright. At 22 years of age, he will continue to improve and possibly take the starting shooting guard spot soon. He's had struggles just like every single rookie, but his offensive skills and instincts were key to his impressive rookie season.
“I still have a chip on my shoulder each and every day I play against the guys that got picked before me, “ Hardaway Jr. was recently quoted saying.
As the NBA season is almost over, Hardaway Jr. might be selected for the 2013-14 NBA All-Rookie First Team.
