In his triumphant return to the New York Knicks, Tim Hardaway Jr. showed during the 2017-18 season that he’s not the same player he once was.
Originally drafted by the New York Knicks with the 24th pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, Tim Hardaway Jr. had mixed results in his two-season tenure in the Big Apple to start his career.
Averaging 10.2 points and garnering All-Rookie First-Team honors, Hardaway Jr. followed that up with 11.5 points per game during his sophomore campaign.
However, with a drop in shooting percentages across the board without noticeable improvements in other areas, the Knicks didn’t see THJ’s value, shipping him to the Atlanta Hawks on the night of the 2015 NBA Draft.
In Atlanta, Hardaway vastly improved his game, putting on muscle and becoming more consistent on both ends of the floor.
When restricted free agency came this past summer, the Knicks weren’t messing around, as they signed him to an offer sheet worth $71 million over four years. While fans and analysts alike were puzzled with the sum of money a fairly unproven role player received, THJ was motivated to prove the doubters wrong in order to justify the contract.
Over the course of 57 games, the 26-year-old averaged a career-high 17.5 points to go along with 3.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 33.1 minutes per game.
While these numbers may not warrant a $71 million contract, what they represent is the progress that THJ has shown since his first stint in New York, as he’s clearly displayed a desire to hone his craft.