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

Fans need to give Jason Kidd time to develop Dallas Mavericks rookie Jaden Hardy

Hardy just turned 20 years old, and he slipped to the second round for several reasons. Yes, he was the number two player coming out of high school behind Chet Holmgren, but Hardy shot 37.6 percent from the field last season, and he averaged 3.4 turnovers and just 3.6 assists per game.

Head coach Jason Kidd sounded excited when he spoke about working with Hardy, but fans should not expect him to instantly become a star. Khris Middleton did go from the 39th overall pick to three-time All-Star, and Jason Kidd was the head coach for four years of his development. The Hall of Famer knows what he is doing, but Middleton was drafted in 2012 and did not reach the All-Star game until 2019.

The Mavs signed Jaden Hardy to one of their 15 roster spots. That was the first positive and an affirmation that the front office believes in him. Most projected the 6’4 guard to be a first-round pick, and he was the last player left in the green room on draft night.

Hardy is motivated to prove himself, and he fell into the perfect situation. The Mavericks need another ball-handler, and they just lost their second-leading scorer in free agency. Fans should not expect the 20-year-old to fill those roles, but he should get opportunities to see the court and make mistakes as a rookie. That will be a key part of his development.

If Jaden Hardy struggles in year one, do not panic. Give Jason Kidd time to work with and help the young talent blossom.