Jaden Hardy Embraces Sixth Man Role After New Mavericks Contract: 'I’m Coming for More'

Hardy led the Mavericks in scoring and assists during the preseason, averaging 15.0 points and 4.3 assists over four games. He maximized his 26.2 minutes per game, notably shooting 40.7% from 3-point range on 6.8 attempts.

Hardy’s Path Forward with the Mavericks

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Head coach Jason Kidd has been enthusiastic about Hardy’s growth, emphasizing the importance of Hardy’s continued evolution as a playmaker.

Kidd highlighted the young guard’s extensive work since joining the Mavericks, focusing on areas beyond his natural scoring ability.

“I think when you talk about Jaden’s ability, we all know he can score. But his ability to playmake, to find guys, to throw lobs, and make corner passes — you can see he’s improved in that area,” Kidd said during preseason. “He’s worked extremely hard, and it’s good to see him not just scoring but also being able to create for others.”

Fresh off his contract extension, Hardy expressed gratitude for the opportunity to continue his career in Dallas and looks forward to significantly impacting the team’s success.

“I’m super grateful for it to be in this position, to get to my second contract. Not a lot of players are able to do that,” Hardy said. “But I’m still not going to let this contract define me. I’ll keep working, I’m coming for more, and just staying humble.”

Hardy also revealed his goal for the upcoming season: to take on a Sixth Man role and thrive while helping the Mavericks to win a championship.

“Really, this is where I want to be, ultimately. I can play my game and go out there freely,” he said. “My main focus is winning the championship this year. But also, my goal is to win Sixth Man.”

Kidd Confident in Hardy’s Role

A critical factor in Hardy’s potential role this early season is the absence of Danté Exum, who remains sidelined after undergoing wrist surgery during training camp. Exum’s injury creates a pathway for Hardy to earn a consistent spot in the Mavericks’ rotation.

Kidd has already expressed confidence in Hardy’s ability to step up when called upon, praising the guard’s work ethic and the team’s decision to extend his contract.

“Yeah, well deserved. Just shows another case of patience,” Kidd said of Hardy’s extension. “You look at the work he’s put in, and it’s well deserved for everybody around him.”

Hardy’s ability to embrace a sixth-man role has been a critical factor in his potential to thrive this season. “Everybody that comes off the bench is the sixth man,” Kidd explained, hinting at the flexibility of Hardy’s role on the depth chart.

While Hardy’s role may continue to evolve, Kidd remains open to exploring different lineup combinations to maximize his impact. The plan seems to remain to stagger playing time for Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, with Irving running the second unit.

“Yeah, I think we’ll see how that goes with the different combinations that we’ll look at here early on,” Kidd added. ”He’ll have an opportunity to play with Kai.”

With the opportunity to carve out a more consistent role in the rotation, Hardy’s hard work and adaptability will be critical components for the Mavericks as they navigate the early part of the season.

Focus on Defense and Playmaking

Aside from his offensive potential, Hardy has been working on the defensive end, another area Kidd believes will be crucial for his role this season. Improving his reads on both sides of the ball has been a focal point in Hardy’s development, allowing him to bring versatility and reliability off the bench.

“I’m focused on defending the three better, picking up full court, and challenging guys while they bring the ball up,” Hardy told Sportskeeda in my recent exclusive interview. “I’m also working on being in the right spots on defense, communicating, and bringing energy.”

For Hardy, the extension is not just a reward but a motivator. “This allows me to play more freely,” he said. “I feel like, yeah, for sure, I’m still going to keep working. The goal is to win.”

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