The Denver Nuggets signed Tim Hardaway Jr. to be himself. It's a simple reality that some have vehemently opposed, but Denver entered this offseason agonizingly aware of how difficult it was to generate points via the second unit in 2025-26.
Rather than lamenting the flaws that will force head coach David Adelman to get creative in the way he utilizes Hardaway, Denver has embraced the unavoidable value he provides as a scorer.
Hardaway has perhaps earned a reputation as a player who's just as capable of going off for high scoring totals as he is of shooting his team out of a game. He's rarely encountered a scoring opportunity he doesn't like, and has a skill set that's often overshadowed by his shot selection.
That's reflected in the fact that the 13-year veteran has career averages of 13.7 points and 2.3 three-point field goals made on .417/361/.815 shooting.
The reason Hardaway has stayed employed for 13 seasons in the NBA, however, is how dynamic he can be when he's on his game. He has deep range on his jump shot, the athleticism to make plays at the rim, and a fearlessness that teams have consistently valued.
In the case of the Nuggets, their glaring flaws perfectly aligned with the strengths that Hardaway provides—and perhaps even his weaknesses.
Tim Hardaway Jr. brings a fearlessness Nuggets' bench needed
Denver's second unit finished the 2024-25 season ranked No. 27 in offensive rating and No. 30 in three-point field goals made per 100 possessions. On that same basis, it was No. 27 in field goal attempts and No. 29 in three-point field goal attempts.
The latter two numbers are the most telling of all, as the Nuggets' bench players in 2024-25 simply lacked the assertiveness to even attempt the shots they needed to.
Hardaway has no such fear, as he enters game and seeks out the shots that are made available to him with an invaluable confidence. It can result in questionable attempts, but Denver needs a player who isn't afraid to make the wrong decision.
Counterintuitive as that may sound in a hyper-analytical era, players who are willing to make mistakes can create a necessary change of pace for well-structured teams like the Nuggets.
Nuggets have an elite structure but needed someone to play outside of it
Hardaway's first three games in Denver have epitomized how he can transform the team into a more dynamic and unpredictable foe. They also revealed both the positive and negative elements of what he brings to the table.
Through both good and bad, however, Hardaway has given the Nuggets the type of electric unpredictability off the bench they haven't had in years.
Hardaway scored 10 points in 22 minutes during the opener, shooting 4-of-8 from the field and 2-of-5 from beyond the arc. Unfortunately, the pendulum swung hard in the other direction when he tallied four points on 1-of-8 shooting against the Phoenix Suns.
A trio of games that perfectly encapsulated the Hardaway experience concluded with 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field and a 4-of-6 mark from distance against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
It may not fit the conventional line of thinking about how to excel in an era of efficiency, but Hardaway's peaks justify his vallies in Denver. The Nuggets need a player who can put pressure on opposing defenses when Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray either aren't on the floor or simply need a defense's focus taken away from them.
For all of the talk about what Hardaway struggles with, his ability to generate instant offense could prove invaluable in 2025-26.