Timothy Duane Hardaway Jr. Bio
Timothy Duane Hardaway Jr. (born March 16, 1992) is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Michigan Wolverines and declared for the NBA draft after his junior season for the national runner-up 2012–13 team. Hardaway was selected as the 24th overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft by the New York Knicks. He has had two stints with the Knicks and has also played for the Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, and Detroit Pistons. He is the son of Hall of Famer Tim Hardaway. He holds several Mavericks three-point shooting records as well as the Pistons’ single-playoff game made three-point shots record.
Early Life and Background
Hardaway is the son of Yolanda and former NBA All-Star Tim Hardaway. He was born in Alameda, California, while his father was a member of the Golden State Warriors. Hardaway graduated from Miami Palmetto High School in the Pinecrest neighborhood of Miami-Dade County, Florida. As a freshman, he played high school football for a year before focusing on basketball. During his junior year, Michigan head coach John Beilein invited him on an unofficial visit to watch Michigan play No. 4 Duke, which was an important win for the program. Following his junior season, Hardaway began training with Ed Downs, with whom he would work every summer until he became an NBA draftee.
Path to Basketball
Hardaway’s first college recruitment contact was from the University of Michigan, which communicated by mail during his second year. In the summer before his senior season, he attended Beilein’s Elite Camp in Ann Arbor, Michigan, receiving an offer that he accepted. During his 2009–10 senior season, he averaged 31.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. ESPN rated him as the 93rd-best player and 28th-best shooting guard in the class of 2010. He was a first team All-City selection in 2009 and 2010 after being a third team selection in 2008.
Timothy Duane Hardaway Jr. Career
Early Career (2013–2015)
Hardaway was drafted 24th overall by the New York Knicks in the 2013 NBA draft. He signed a four-year, $6.1 million contract with the Knicks, clearing the way for him to play in the 2013 NBA Summer League. He made his regular season debut in the 2013–14 Knicks season-opener, scoring 5 points. Hardaway quickly became a key player for the Knicks, posting a career-high 21 points against the New Orleans Pelicans. He was named a Rising Stars Challenge participant as part of the 2014 NBA All-Star Game weekend and finished fifth in the NBA Rookie of the Year Award balloting.
Breakthrough (2015–2017)
On June 25, 2015, Hardaway was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. He made his first start for Atlanta on March 17, 2016, scoring a season-high 21 points. In the Hawks’ season opener on October 27, 2016, Hardaway scored 21 points off the bench. On January 1, 2017, he matched his career high with 29 points against the San Antonio Spurs. Hardaway had a career-high 36 points in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 3, 2017.
Notable Works and Milestones
Hardaway’s signature work includes his performance during the 2012–13 NCAA season, where he was recognized as a first-team All-Big Ten selection. He also earned the NBA All-Rookie First Team honors in 2014.
Timothy Duane Hardaway Jr. Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Timothy Duane Hardaway Jr. has received several nominations, including being named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2014.
Timothy Duane Hardaway Jr. Awards Won
Hardaway has received notable awards, including First-team All-Big Ten in 2013 and Third-team All-Big Ten in 2012.
Timothy Duane Hardaway Jr. Family
Hardaway is the son of Yolanda and Tim Hardaway. He has a sister named Nia.
Personal Life
Hardaway has memorialized deceased friends on his left shoe and deceased family members on his right shoe during the 2012–13 season. He has maintained a low profile regarding his personal life outside of basketball.
