Denver Nuggets guard/forward Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) cheers for a teammate from the bench during a game against the Grizzlies at Ball Arena on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)
Award voters have a type when it comes to Sixth Man of the Year, and Tim Hardaway Jr. fits the profile to a capital ‘T.’
The last 15 years of the award have been dominated by microwave-scoring guards — guys like Lou Williams, Jamal Crawford, James Harden, J.R. Smith, Eric Gordon, Jordan Clarkson, Tyler Herro and, most recently, Payton Pritchard. Naz Reid (2024) and Montrezl Harrell (2020) are the only real big men to win the award since 2011.
No reserve this season has made more 3-pointers than Hardaway.
“He’s Sixth Man of the Year,” All-Star and likely All-NBA selection Jamal Murray said after Denver’s win over Memphis on Wednesday at Ball Arena. “He’s really a starter for us. He’s playing the same minutes as a starter, guarding some of the best players. Just a real professional, honestly, same energy, same mentality every single night. (He’s) real consistent in that regard, so it’s always good to have somebody that you can rely on to not just put the ball in the hoop but for their energy and leadership every single night.”
Murray, with 245 and counting this season, is the only Nuggets player to make more 3-pointers in a season than Hardaway, who’s sitting on 221. Hardaway jumped Michael Porter Jr.’s output in the 2023-24 season with a trio of triples against the Grizzlies. He’s done it on a career-best 40.9% from deep.
“Just reading the game … picking and choosing my spots, maybe a little bit wiser out there on the floor. Shots that I feel like I know I can probably make but turn those down for better ones for the betterment of the team,” Hardaway said.
“A couple of them didn’t fall down today. I’m kind of pissed off about that, but for the most part, I feel like that’s the big difference.”
Denver Nuggets guard Tim Hardaway Jr., right, drives to the rim as Memphis Grizzlies guard Lucas Williamson defends in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
When Hardaway turns down a shot, that’s a personal choice. Nuggets coach David Adelman has given his veteran sniper a neon green light.
“His green light is as bright as it can be. When he’s open or he feels like he’s open, I’m very OK with him shooting the ball,” Adelman said, noting Hardaway’s eight attempts in 19 minutes.
“I like seeing that. That’s what he should do. That’s his role on this team. He takes it seriously. He works at it. He’s a real pro. … It’s what he’s been doing all year. It’s just clockwork.”
Despite fitting the profile, Hardaway is not among the favorites to win the award. That title belongs to San Antonio’s Keldon Johnson, who’s averaging 13 points and 5.3 rebounds for the Spurs, who sit second in the Western Conference, and Miami’s Jamie Jaquez Jr., who’s putting up 15.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists for a team that’s bound for the play-in in the weaker Eastern Conference. Hardaway’s scoring a little more than 13 points and two rebounds a game for a team that’s on the verge of clinching the three seed, but Adelman hopes the voters consider context in Hardaway’s case. Despite Denver’s rash of injuries, Hardaway has solidified Denver’s bench with 74 of his 79 appearances coming as a reserve.
“The conversation about Tim should be about our season, our team and the things we went through and his impact on keeping our season alive. I think that’s very underrated,” Adelman said. “I’ve seen guys win the award that are on the best team in the league, (and) they stay in the game when the game is a 25-point lead. They pad stats, and they win Sixth Man of the Year. That’s not what this is.”
The Nuggets’ coach was beyond excited when he realized Hardaway would be an option as a veteran minimum signing in the offseason. Hardaway called it an interesting summer to be a free agent, considering the number of established players who were forced to settle for smaller contracts, but the presence of JJ Barea, a former teammate when Hardaway was with the Mavericks, Jared Dudley, an assistant during his time in Dallas, and Aaron Gordon helped convince the veteran to come to Denver. Hardaway reached out to Gordon via social media to get a temperature check on the situation in Denver before agreeing to a minimum contract to join the Nuggets.
“Breaking news an hour later,” Gordon said. “He’s put in a lot of work for us. I think it’s the best contract in the league right now bar none. He’s carried (us) in a lot of games, especially in that second unit and mixing into that first unit as well. He’s been outstanding for us, and I think he’s primed to have a really great postseason run.”
The 34-year-old Hardaway three times has finished in the top 10 of the Sixth Man of the Year vote since the Knicks drafted him with the 24th overall pick of the 2013 draft. He’s never placed better than fifth, which he did with the Mavericks in 2021. The hope is that changes this season.
“This guy has been a reason why we’ve won close games, stayed in the race, which allowed our main people to get back. He’s just done it consistently all season long,” Adelman said.
“For a guy his age to play the amount of games he’s played and just impact winning in so many ways, I would hope he’s considered.”