Will Jason Kidd bring the best out of Dallas Mavericks rookie Jaden Hardy?

The Dallas Mavericks made a surprise run to the conference finals in Jason Kidd’s first season as head coach. The Hall of Fame point guard and his staff do not get enough credit for the job they did. They transformed the Mavericks from a bottom ten to a top ten defense in one year with largely the same personnel.

Multiple players had career years too. Jalen Brunson turned his breakout season into a $100 million contract in New York. It is easy to forget that people were questioning if he was worth the maximum four-year $55.6 million deal that Dallas could offer him as an extension last summer. Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Josh Green also played their best basketball under coach Kidd.

The Mavs traded away both of their draft picks only to get back into the second round to select Jaden Hardy. They had the 20-year-old in their top 20, and the front office was surprised to see him slip to 37th overall. Dallas jumped at the chance to acquire him, but can coach Kidd bring the best out of him?

Will Jason Kidd bring the best out of Dallas Mavericks rookie Jaden Hardy?

Kidd is one of the best point guards of all time, and he made the NBA 75 this year. Nobody is questioning his talents on the court or his basketball mind.

The 49-year-old has a strong track record of bringing the best out of his players too. Brook Lopez had arguably his best season during Kidd’s lone season as head coach in Brooklyn. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton both blossomed in the four years he spent coaching the Bucks. Second-round pick Malcolm Brogdon was even Rookie of the Year under Kidd in 2017.

Can head coach Jason Kidd bring the best out of Jaden Hardy? Here is a look at why fans should bet on it.