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). The 6-foot-5 shooting guard was selected 24th overall in the 2013 NBA draft by the New York Knicks after playing three seasons for the Michigan Wolverines. Hardaway is the son of Hall of Famer Tim Hardaway and has built a reputation as one of the premier three-point shooters in NBA history, holding several franchise records with the Dallas Mavericks and earning NBA All-Rookie First Team honors in 2014.
Over his 12-year NBA career, Hardaway has played for the New York Knicks (two stints), Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, and currently the Denver Nuggets. He holds the distinction of being the NBA all-time career leader in turnover percentage and led the league in that statistic during the 2025-26 season. His career has been marked by clutch performances, franchise records, and a relentless work ethic that helped him become a consistent contributor at the professional level.
Early Life and Background
Timothy Duane Hardaway Jr. was born on March 16, 1992, in Alameda, California, while his father, Tim Hardaway, was playing for the Golden State Warriors. His mother is Yolanda Hardaway, and he has a sister named Nia. Growing up in the Bay Area with an NBA All-Star as his father provided Hardaway with unique access to professional basketball environments from an early age. He attended Miami Palmetto High School in the Pinecrest neighborhood of Miami-Dade County, Florida, after his family relocated there during his childhood.
As a freshman at Miami Palmetto High School, Hardaway initially played football for a year before dedicating himself fully to basketball. His relationship with his father was intense during his high school years, with Tim Hardaway acting as a demanding second coach who pushed his son to excel. Hardaway began training with Ed Downs during his junior year and continued that partnership every summer until he entered the NBA draft. His recruitment to the University of Michigan came through mail correspondence during his sophomore year, and he eventually accepted a scholarship offer after attending coach John Beilein’s Elite Camp in Ann Arbor.
Path to Professional Basketball
Hardaway’s high school career was impressive despite being unranked in the Rivals.com Top-150, with only offers from Minnesota and Kansas State besides Michigan. He averaged 31.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists during his senior season and scored 42 points in the Florida state championship game against Pine Crest School. He was a first-team All-City selection in 2009 and 2010 and played AAU basketball for both the South Florida Heat and Chicago’s Mac Irvin Fire, where he teammates with future NBA players Meyers Leonard and Jereme Richmond. His recruitment by Michigan under John Beilein proved pivotal, as the coaching staff saw potential in the athletic guard who would become a cornerstone of the program.
At the University of Michigan, Hardaway quickly established himself as a dynamic player, earning Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors in 2011 while setting the Michigan freshman record for single-season three-point shots made. He was named Third-team All-Big Ten as a sophomore in 2012 when Michigan shared the conference regular season championship. As a junior during the 2012-13 season, Hardaway formed one of college basketball’s best backcourts with Trey Burke, helping Michigan reach the NCAA championship game as the national runner-up. He earned First-team All-Big Ten recognition and was projected as a first-round NBA draft pick before declaring for the draft in April 2013.
Timothy Duane Hardaway Jr. Career
New York Knicks (2013-2015)
Hardaway was drafted 24th overall by the New York Knicks in the 2013 NBA draft, becoming part of a historic draft duo with Michigan teammate Trey Burke. Together, they became the first Michigan duo selected in the first round since Juwan Howard and Jalen Rose in 1994. Hardaway signed a four-year, $6.1 million contract in July 2013 and made his regular season debut on October 30 against the Milwaukee Bucks, recording 5 points in 15 minutes of play. He suffered a wrist injury during Summer League that ended his exhibition season prematurely.
The rookie season proved to be a breakthrough campaign for Hardaway. On December 1, 2013, he posted a career-high 21 points against the New Orleans Pelicans, and later that month earned his first NBA start when Kenyon Martin sat out. During the 2014 NBA All-Star Weekend, he participated in the Rising Stars Challenge. On January 30, 2014, he set a career high with 29 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers, finishing fifth in the NBA Rookie of the Year voting and earning NBA All-Rookie First Team recognition. In his second season with New York, Hardaway continued to develop, posting season highs of 25 points multiple times before injuries limited his availability late in the year.
Atlanta Hawks (2015-2017)
On June 25, 2015, Hardaway was traded to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for the draft rights to Jerian Grant. Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer informed Hardaway that he would not play during the first 25 games of the season, and he made his debut on November 24 against the Boston Celtics. During his time with Atlanta, Hardaway was assigned to the Canton Charge and Austin Spurs in the NBA Development League for brief developmental stints, a common practice for teams managing roster development.
The 2016-17 season marked Hardaway’s emergence as a consistent scoring threat. On January 1, 2017, he matched his career high with 29 points, including a tying three-pointer with 3.3 seconds remaining in regulation and nine points in overtime to lead the Hawks to a victory over the San Antonio Spurs. On February 2, he scored 23 of his career-high 33 points in the fourth quarter to complete a comeback against the Houston Rockets. His season ended with a 36-point performance against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 3, 2017, establishing himself as a capable primary scoring option.
Return to New York Knicks (2017-2019)
Following the 2016-17 season, the Hawks extended Hardaway a qualifying offer, making him a restricted free agent. On July 6, 2017, he received a four-year, $71 million offer sheet from the Knicks, which Atlanta declined to match. Hardaway returned to New York on July 8, 2017, in what became a significant free agent acquisition for the franchise. During the 2017-18 season, he posted his first career double-double with 26 points and 11 rebounds against the Orlando Magic and scored a then-career-high 38 points against the Toronto Raptors in November.
His 2017-18 season ended early due to a stress injury in his left leg that caused him to miss 20 games, but he returned in January 2018 and continued to produce. In the 2018-19 season opener, Hardaway scored 31 points to help the Knicks achieve a franchise-record 49-point second quarter. He posted career highs of 39 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves in March 2019 and 37 points with a career-best seven three-pointers against the Indiana Pacers in October 2018, demonstrating his evolution as a scoring wing.
Dallas Mavericks (2019-2024)
On January 31, 2019, Hardaway was traded to the Dallas Mavericks as part of a major blockbuster that sent Kristaps Porzingis to New York. After averaging 15.5 points in 19 games for Dallas, he suffered a lower leg stress fracture that required surgery and sidelined him for the final 11 games of the season. During the 2019-20 season, Hardaway was inserted into the starting lineup in November and responded with a career-high 42 points against the Detroit Pistons on April 30, 2021. That same season, he went 10-for-18 on three-point attempts against Miami, tying the Mavericks’ single-game franchise record with 10 three-pointers made.
Hardaway’s three-point shooting became a cornerstone of Dallas’s success. He became the first Maverick with back-to-back 200-plus three-point shot seasons and ultimately the only player in franchise history with multiple such seasons. During the 2022-23 season, he and Luka Doncic became the first teammates in NBA history to each hit four-plus three-point shots in the same streak of five consecutive games. Hardaway re-signed with the Mavericks on a four-year, $75 million contract in August 2021. His tenure culminated in a trip to the 2024 NBA Finals, where Dallas lost to the Boston Celtics in five games, with Hardaway setting a Mavericks franchise record for most three-point shots made in an NBA Finals game with five.
Detroit Pistons (2024-2025)
On July 6, 2024, Hardaway was traded to the Detroit Pistons alongside three future second-round draft picks in exchange for Quentin Grimes. He quickly became a veteran leader for a young Pistons team attempting to rebuild around emerging talent. On December 16, 2024, he made three consecutive three-point shots in less than a minute during overtime to spark a comeback victory over Miami, showcasing his ability to take over crucial moments despite coming off the bench.
The 2024-25 season featured Hardaway’s playoff heroics in the opening round against the New York Knicks. In Game 3 of the series, he set a career playoff best with seven three-pointers made, including his first six attempts and a perfect 5-for-5 first half performance in Detroit’s first home playoff game in six years. The effort tied Chauncey Billups’ 2003 franchise record for most three-point shots made in a single playoff game. In Game 4, Hardaway attempted a potential game-winning three-pointer just before the final buzzer, with physical contact from Josh Hart later determined by postgame review to have warranted a three-shot shooting foul.
Denver Nuggets (2025-Present)
On July 10, 2025, Hardaway signed a one-year, minimum salary contract with the Denver Nuggets, joining the defending Western Conference champions. The veteran shooting guard brought championship experience and three-point shooting expertise to a Nuggets team seeking to maintain its contender status. During the 2025-26 season, Hardaway surpassed the former team record of 216 single-season three-point shots set by Michael Porter Jr. two seasons earlier, though teammate Jamal Murray made even more three-point shots that season for the Nuggets. Remarkably, Hardaway made more three-point shots than any other NBA reserve during the season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hardaway has established himself as one of the most reliable three-point shooters in NBA history, particularly from beyond the arc as a reserve. His shooting stroke is quick and repeatable, allowing him to score in bunches when he finds rhythm. His ability to space the floor as a catch-and-shoot specialist has made him valuable to every team he has played for, while his mid-range game provides additional scoring versatility. Defensively, he has worked to improve his positioning and awareness throughout his career, with USA Basketball assistant coach Tom Thibodeau credited with helping enhance his defensive skills during their time together at the 2011 FIBA Under-19 World Championship.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his most significant career moments are the 2024 NBA Finals appearance with Dallas, where he set franchise records for three-point shooting in the championship series. His perfect 10-for-18 performance from three-point range against Miami in 2021 tied multiple NBA and franchise records. The career-high 42-point game against Detroit in 2021 demonstrated his ability to carry offensive burden when needed, while his consistent 200-plus three-point shot seasons with Dallas solidified his place among the elite shooters in league history.
Timothy Duane Hardaway Jr. Career Wins
Throughout his NBA career, Hardaway has established himself as a reliable scorer with significant contributions across multiple franchises. His three-point shooting prowess has translated into consistent offensive production, with multiple seasons of 200-plus made three-pointers and numerous single-game shooting performances that rank among the best in franchise history.
NBA Achievements
Hardaway’s NBA accomplishments include NBA All-Rookie First Team recognition in 2014 and finishing fifth in the Rookie of the Year voting during his debut season with the Knicks. He was also among the candidates for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award following the 2020-21 season with Dallas. His leadership helped guide the Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals, where the team fell to the Boston Celtics in five games.
Three-Point Shooting Records
Hardaway holds several significant three-point shooting records. He is the Dallas Mavericks’ all-time leader in career three-point percentage and holds the franchise record for most three-pointers made in a single game with 10, a mark he achieved against the Miami Heat on May 4, 2021. That performance tied the NBA arena record at the time and ranks among the most prolific single-game shooting displays in league history. During the 2024 NBA Finals, he established a Mavericks franchise record with five three-pointers made in a single Finals game, with all five coming in the fourth quarter. He holds the Detroit Pistons’ single-playoff game record with seven three-pointers made in Game 3 of their first-round series against New York in April 2025.
Timothy Duane Hardaway Jr. Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Hardaway comes from a distinguished basketball family, with his father Tim Hardaway being a Hall of Fame player who was a five-time NBA All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection during a 13-year career with Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, and other franchises. The elder Hardaway was known for his prolific scoring and playmaking abilities, pioneering the “Underground” basketball movement in Oakland during the 1990s. This basketball pedigree has provided Tim Hardaway Jr. with a unique foundation for his professional career, with his father serving as both mentor and role model throughout his development.
Personal Life
During the 2012-13 NCAA season, Hardaway honored deceased friends and family members by memorializing them on his shoes during games, with deceased friends commemorated on his left shoe and family members on his right shoe. He participated with Team USA at the 2011 FIBA Under-19 World Championship in Latvia, where he scored a team-high 21 points in the fifth-place game against Australia. He also practiced with the USA Basketball National Select Team in July 2014.
2025-26 Season Performance
The 2025-26 season marked a significant milestone in Hardaway’s career as he joined the Denver Nuggets organization. His immediate impact was evident as he became the first player in franchise history to surpass 200 made three-pointers in a season as a reserve player, surpassing the previous record set by Michael Porter Jr. More notably, he led the NBA in turnover percentage for the season, finishing second in that category in three previous seasons before finally capturing the league title in this metric. This achievement solidified his place as the NBA all-time career leader in turnover percentage, reflecting his careful ball handling and decision-making.