The Denver Nuggets filled their shooting void by adding Tim Hardaway Jr., but they will soon find out about the roller coaster ride of having him on their roster. Mavericks fans saw nights where he absolutely couldn’t miss during his six seasons in Dallas and others where THJ would have struggled to throw the ball into the ocean. He is a microwave shooter who frustrates fans when he doesn’t have it going.
The Nuggets have had a dream offseason. They answered Nikola Jokic’s challenge by adding Cam Johnson, Bruce Brown, Jonas Valanciunas, and Hardaway Jr. at the expense of Michael Porter Jr. and Russell Westbrook. The additions put even more pressure on the young talents and will force them to step up if they want to be in the rotation.
Hardaway Jr. is a career 36.1 percent 3-point shooter with three of his 12 years being under 34 percent and three over 38. He shoots it well overall, but it can certainly be frustrating game-to-game.
Tim Hardaway Jr. is a streaky shooter that can be frustrating
THJ was in and out of the Mavs playoff rotation in 2024 as they made a run to the NBA Finals. He is not known for his defense, which makes his streaky shooting more problematic. When the shots aren’t falling, it is time to get Hardaway Jr. on the bench.
Over his final 29 games in the 2023-24 season, THJ shot 31.4 percent from 3-point range after shooting 36.2 in his first 29. That is the roller coaster ride. Hardaway Jr. averaged 18 points per game when the shots were falling and 8.7 each night when they weren’t.
Going back throughout his career, it happens nearly every year. Hardaway Jr. looks like an elite wing when he consistently makes shots and is virtually unplayable when they stop falling. There are extended stretches every year where the 6’5 wing struggles to consistently knock them down.
Nikola Jokic is the best passer on the planet. If anyone can fully unlock THJ’s shooting it is the Nuggets' star. Hardaway Jr. averaged 12.0 points per game in the 2025 playoffs while starting all six first-round contests for the Pistons. He will play a key role in Denver, but fans should be on the lookout for cold streaks. They are brutal and frustrating, especially when THJ keeps getting open looks.
The Denver Nuggets have nailed the offseason. They are one of the deepest teams in the West and have the best player. They are firmly back in title contention and have been aggressive in adding pieces. Credit to ownership and the new front office. Nuggets fans should be pumped, and even Tim Hardaway Jr’s cold streaks can’t ruin that excitement.