Knicks exercise option

The New York Knicks have announced that they have exercised their third year option on G Tim Hardaway Jr..  Last season for the franchise Hardaway Jr. averaged 10.2 points and 1.5 rebounds per game.

Read More

Q&A: Tim Hardaway Jr.

Courtesy of Slam

SLAM: Have you had a chance to work out with Carmelo’s longtime trainer, Idan Ravin?

Tim Hardaway Jr: Yeah, I worked out with Idan last year during the season when he was with the (Knicks’) staff. He’s great. He’s what everybody says he is. He’s definitely great at his craft and making people push their limits.

SLAM: During this past offseason, who did you train with?

THJ: Nobody, really. I’ve been by myself back at home. Training by myself, getting better each and every day. When I’m at the (Knicks’) facility, everybody will pop up every once in a while.

SLAM: You played your high school ball in Florida, but you played AAU with the Mac Irvin Fire. How did that relationship come about?

THJ: My parents are based out of Chicago and my family is based out of Chicago. Every summer when I was out of school, before I started playing AAU, we lived in Chicago when my dad was working out with Tim Grover. So I really grew close to the Irving family, and they really are family to the Hardaway family as well.

SLAM: Jabari Parker, also part of the Irving family, is heading into his rookie season. Have you spoken to him recently?

THJ: I haven’t talked to him at all this offseason. I’m just focused on Knick basketball. From what I’ve seen from him, he’s a great player in a great situation right now. He’s close to home. I really haven’t had an opportunity to talk to him.

SLAM: What was it like playing with guys like Cleanthony Early and Shane Larkin in Vegas?

THJ: Definitely energy guys. Shane uses his speed to the best of his abilities because he’s sometimes the smallest guy out there on the court. He’s out there getting a lot of defections and loose balls on the floor and pushing the pace—a great passer. Cleanthony does a great job of running the floor just like myself. He has that tenacity of wanting to get better, and he really loves to ask questions, which is great coming from a young guy.

SLAM: Did Phil Jackson speak to the team in Vegas?

THJ: Yeah, he talked to us a little bit. Not really about our roles, but trying to get us ready for the season and telling us what we have to work on as a team. He’s doing a great job of making sure Coach Fisher is comfortable as the head coach and helping out in any way that he can.

SLAM: How did your relationship grow with Coach Fisher during Summer League?

THJ: It was big. He definitely saw me as a leader for that specific team in the Summer League. I wanted to be a great role model for the guys and be a true professional since I’ve been in the League already for a year now. He wanted me to go out there and encourage guys and work on things I need to work on to get better, and continue with that pace moving forward.

SLAM: How do you see yourself fitting in specifically with the Triangle Offense?

THJ: I don’t see nothing really different from what I did in the Summer League. You got to give maximum effort when you’re running it. You got to trust one another when you’re on the court. That’s the only way it’s successful, and we showed it when we were playing the Summer League.

SLAM: Do you think of Jackson’s championship teams when playing the Triangle?

THJ: Yeah, you obviously have to think about those. That’s what got them to win it. And obviously, with having Michael Jordan and Scottie and then Kobe and Shaq. It was great to watch a lot of those games on NBA TV Hardwood Classics and just see how they ran the Triangle Offense, how they defended and how they just won games.

SLAM: You once said that Kings rookie Nik Stauskas had the best work ethic you’ve ever seen. Would you say that’s still true having worked with more pros?

THJ: His work ethic was the greatest I’d ever seen in college. Professional is a totally different ballgame. You got guys who are constantly working out throughout the summer, not taking no days off. I was saying that I’ve never seen that from a college player since I’ve been there. Now that you’re a professional, you really get to see how people work very, very hard. And that’s not only on the basketball court. That’s through training, getting better in the weight room, conditioning, eating the right foods. It’s a lot more than just basketball. Nik is going to get better each and every day. He’s still got a long way to go, but he definitely has the backbone.

SLAM: Which NBA players have impressed you with their work ethic?

THJ: I know Melo works very, very hard. He slimmed down great. He looks good right now. JR Smith is a ball of energy out there when he’s working out. It’s kind of hard—you got 30 teams out there, so anybody can be working hard each and every day.

SLAM: When did you start getting into Call of Duty?

THJ: The first time I played it was in college. I really wasn’t a big fan of those types of games, shooting games. I’m more of a Madden and NBA 2K guy. When I first started playing it with my teammates, I realized it was a great bonding for the team. Multiple guys could play it, and you could play online. So it was fun and exciting to play it with those guys. That’s why I continue to play it.

SLAM: Advanced Warfare is on the way. How long have you been waiting to get your hands on a copy and who do you play CoD with most of the time?

THJ: For now, I kind of play by myself. I like to do the story modes and stuff like that. I’m not really big into the online stuff. I play with friends of teammates. I been waiting for the game for a minute now, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it and see what new features they have on there. It gets better and better each and every year.

SLAM: Which teammates do you play the game with?

THJ: It’s the young guys that play video games like myself, Toure Murry, we’re the youngest guys on the team. Most of the guys have families, so it’s kind of tough for them to get out for the games and stuff like that. I know myself and Toure Murry, we played some of the games, and it was a great way for us to kill time, to bond, to talk about stuff on the court, off the court. It was a great way to stay in touch.

SLAM: Would you like to be the starting SG this season?

THJ: I don’t know why people keep asking that question. Obviously, who doesn’t want to be a starting shooting guard in the NBA for a team? But you still have to compete with the best, and whatever decision coach makes is the decision you got to go with. You just got to go out there, put it on the court and do what you can to get better each and every day.

Read More

Tim Hardaway Jr. Nails Game-Winner With Dad Watching (VIDEO)

Read More

NBA Q&A: Tim Hardaway Jr.

Courtesy of Steve Serby 

Q: How did your dad’s criticism of you growing up affect the family?

A: He’ll get on me and like, “You’re not doing this, you’re not doing that, you’re wasting our time,” and my mom and my sister would start crying — the 11-year-old, she was probably like 6 or 7 at the time. She’ll start arguing and crying, you know, getting upset. And the 19-year-old (sister), her name is Nia, she’ll start like saying, “Dad, why are you arguing with him? Leave him alone. He’s doing the best he can.” My mom was like, “Why are you guys arguing?”, and then my dad’s like, “No, no, he’s not doing what I’m telling him to do.” And then that would just break up the family. There’d be times where I wouldn’t talk to him for like four or five straight days, ’cause it was that deep. ... And my junior year of high school, he sat up in the stands, saw I was doing everything he told me to do and he apologized, and after that, it just lifted a weight right off my shoulder.

Q: Where did he apologize?

A: On the way back home after a high school game.

Q: What had you done in the game?

A: Almost a triple double.

Q: Re-enact the scene.

A: Driving back, in the car, I’m exhausted, and then he’s like, “I’m sorry, you’re doing whatever I tell you to do. I just want to apologize. I know I’ve been hard on you, but when I see you out there you’re doing whatever I tell you to do, and I’m happy for you. You’re gonna go a long way.”

Q: Why did you feel the pressure of living up to his legacy?

A: A lot of guys that have dads that played professional in the sport that they do, don’t want to play that sport. Some guys will play another sport just so they can get away from it, make their own legacy. But you try to take advantage of that opportunity when you have a dad that, professionally, you’re playing the same sport as he is. I was really, really, really good at it at the time, my junior year, senior year of high school. know you’re gonna take criticism, you’ve been taking it all your life, so why stop? That was my mentality, “Why stop?”

Q: But if you stopped, he couldn’t criticize you.

A: It’s always something being added to your fire, and I think that’s what drives me.

Q: Is what?

A: Just criticism, and doubters, and just negativity.

Q: To prove everybody wrong?

A: Yeah.

Q: So you were driven to prove your dad wrong?

A: Yeah.

Q: And I guess you have.

A: Yup (chuckle).

Q: What did he tell you after the Knicks drafted you?

A: He was like, “Well, I can’t be seen in orange and blue.” He said, “I’m happy for you. You deserved it, take advantage of this opportunity, it only happens once. I’m happy for you that your dreams came true.”

Q: What did your mom tell you?

A: She was kinda upset because I didn’t give her a hug because I got up, and I didn’t believe what happened, and then everybody was just coming right to left and I was like, “Where’s my mom?” And she’s all the way in the back. I sat down with her for like 10 minutes and just talked about the whole situation. She’s just happy, and I’m happy for her.

Q: You cried when you were drafted?

A: Yeah, my sister was crying, so I was like, “Why are you doing that?” My little sister, she’s 11. I wasn’t crying, I was like, “Yes!” And then I looked at her and then I just broke down, ’cause she’s like one of my all time fans, my best friend, she talks to me all the time.

Q: Why are you and Nia so close?

A: Just because she’s always around me, she wants to do what I do. I play video games with her all the time. When she’s playing Xbox Kinect, I’m on there dancing with her and doing whatever I can just to stay involved with her, and she loves it.

Q: What was it like when you would go to Heat games and watch your dad play the Knicks?

A: There’s gonna be a fight. ... You already knew it was gonna be an all-out war when you were going to the game, and that’s why I wanted to go to the game so I could see it (chuckle).

Q: Did your father get into any particular brawls when you were there?

A: No, not at all, but he definitely got into people’s faces and stuff, but no like punches or anything like that.

Q: How would you describe your on-court mentality?

A: It’s not like his, his is totally different. Sometimes, when I’m in the moment, I could get to his intensity level, you could just see it in my face when I’m playing sometimes ... very, very passionate ... confidence and ... I’m just trying to go out there and give it my all while I’m playing.

Q: Describe your killer instinct?

A: When you have an opportunity to take advantage of someone do it, ’cause it might not happen again. I’m just trying to learn it from my father. ... It’s a mentality you have to have.

Q: What do you remember about those old Knicks teams?

A: They were just junkyard dogs. They had guys on their team that, when you went to the rack, you’re getting fouled, no matter how you land, no matter if you get hurt or not. It was big-boy basketball.

Q: Sounds like playing against Michigan State.

A: Yeah. Oh yeah (smile). Exactly the same.

Q: What do you know about Carmelo Anthony?

A: I know he’s from New York (chuckle) and Syracuse. ... A prolific scorer, he gets the crowd involved, and that’s what I like, he’s very, very energized when he’s playing. And once he gets going, it’s kinda hard to stop him. It’s gonna be great just to play alongside of him, and just be his teammate.

Q: Have you met coach Mike Woodson?

A: I met him when we came on our pre-draft workout here.

Q: Any first impressions?

A: He grew his beard out (smile).

Q: What kind of impact do you think you can make as a rookie?

A: I think I’ll just be a guy that could be an energy giver, not an energy drainer, play solid defense, knock down wide open shots when the ball’s passed to me, and just be an all-around type of player ... make just simple plays, don’t overdo things like I said, and just try to go out there and have fun.

Q: Tell me about your mom.

A: One definition I can give you about my mom is she made me the man who I am today. She was there when my dad wasn’t at home, he was on the road all the time playing games, so she was that mother and father figure. She would take us to school and pick us up from school and fix dinner, make sure we had clothes on our back, take us to our games, athletic events. ... She was just the ultimate mom — Supermom. So I thank her for that, and none of this would have been possible of it wasn’t for her.

Q: Are you more like your mom than your dad?

A: I’m more like my mom.

Q: How so?

A: I’m just closer with her. I mean, I can have a conversation with her for three hours, and we can talk about nothing. It’s just a comfort thing that I’ve had with her ever since I was little.

Q: How often have you been to New York City?

A: My first time in New York City was when we played here for the NIT tournament this past season. We walked around Times Square.

Q: What did you think?

A: It was awesome. It was great (chuckle).

Q: How are you going to like playing in this market?

A: It’s gonna be great. Madison Square Garden is one of **** the **** best, if not the most historical venues in sports. And to play in front of a crowd that loves their sports, it’s gonna be great, it’s gonna be insane, and that’s what you grow up to play in front of.

Q: Describe your first time playing at the Garden.

A: It was the NIT tournament against Pitt, came back and got a victory, and all I can remember is just Michigan alumni fans out the wazoo in the arena, and I know I’m home because of the Michigan alumni here, and I’m gonna be very comfortable.

Q: Why did you ask the Knicks to put Jr. on the back of your jersey?

A: . I’ve been doing that ever since college, and I think it shows a sign of respect that I’m playing behind him, and I’m following in his footsteps.

Q: Any thoughts when you see those banners up there at the practice facility?

A: Willis Reed, walking back out. ... Patrick Ewing played against my dad. ... Walt Frazier, ’cause I can’t wear his number (10) (smile). ... Another thing I don’t see is a world championship banner for our era. Want to work towards that.

Q: Why No. 5 for you?

A: That was my dad’s rookie number.

Q: Describe Michigan coach John Coach Beilein.

A: He’s definitely a teacher of the game.

Q: Did you play football?

A: I tried out football in ninth grade, my dad said stop. He didn’t want me to do it. He was scared ’cause he tore his ACL, so he just wants to make sure that I don’t do the same thing.

Q: What position did you play?

A: Wide receiver, cornerback. That’s when I was smaller at the time.

Q: Did you catch any big touchdowns?

A: I didn’t catch one on offense then, but I got an interception and I ran it back for a touchdown.

Q: Did you spike it?

A: Naw, can’t spike it.

Q: Do a dance in the end zone?

A: You can’t dance, you can’t taunt, in high school.

Q: Favorite basketball players growing up?

A: Michael Jordan, my dad, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady.

Q: Impressions of Nets first-round pick Mason Plumlee of Duke.

A: I worked out with him in Chicago this past summer. Very, very athletic ... can run the court, has an unbelievable motor ... grabs rebounds where a lot of people can’t grab ’em. ... He’s just an all-out competitor.

Q: What was your best single college moment?

A: Ohio State at home this past year. We were playing in our all-maize uniforms when they had the all-red jerseys on — aka the Ketchup and Mustard game. And it was just six out of [nine] 3s, five in the second half in a row, just trying to bring my team back [for a 76-74 overtime win].

Q: Worst single college moment — losing the NCAA championship game to Louisville?

A: Yeah, that was very, very disappointing ... and losing to Indiana at home this past year.

Q: You played in the A-Rod Classic.

A: I had 42 that game. I played so good that Rod Strickland was like, “We need you to de-commit from Michigan,” just jokingly (smile). That was the most packed high school gym I’ve seen. ... It felt like a Rucker Park kinda game.

Q: You met Alex Rodriguez at the luncheon?

A: Everybody met him, everybody got an autographed baseball.

Q: Any impressions of him?

A: I thought he was really, really tall. I thought he was like 6-5, 6-6. He looks so tall on TV. He was shorter than I thought.

Q: Superstitions?

A: I gotta eat, leave at the same time, get to the court at the same time before every game.

Q: Anything special you eat?

A: If the game goes well, then I’ll continue to eat the same thing. And if it doesn’t, I’ll switch it up.

Q: You like cartoons?

A: Yeah. “Phineas and Ferb” is my favorite cartoon. Every time I just watch it, I just laugh every time, and I normally watch it with my sisters, and some of the things that they do are creative, and it’s just fun to watch.

Q: Three dinner guests?

A: Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., Michael Jordan.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: “Love and Basketball.”

Q: Favorite actors?

A: Will Ferrell, Will Smith, Jim Carrey and Adam Sandler.

Q: Favorite actresses?

A: Halle Berry, Jennifer Aniston.

Q: Favorite meal?

A: Sushi.

Q: Any message for Knicks fans?

A: All I know is I’m gonna give it my all. No matter how good or how bad I play, I’m gonna give 110 percent. And I’m not gonna let them down.

Read More

NBA Q&A: Tim Hardaway Jr.

Courtesy of Alberto de Roa 

How are the workouts going?

Tim Hardaway Jr: The workouts are going really, really well. Going out there, playing hard, maximum effort... The competitive experience with the guys I am working out with is incredible. It's great to get the chance, the opportunity to compete with them.

What's the daily routine of the player during the workouts?

TH: My routine is just varied. A lot of treatment in my body, in my system so I can go out there and just give maximum effort. Just travelling on a plane takes a lot out of you. You want to do the best you can, keep your body in shape and get a lot of rest.

What do they normally ask you to showcase during the workouts?

TH: They don't really tell us anything. Every coach I've been with while I work out with the teams always say to give maximum effort so you can play basketball at the next level. So that's just what I try to do every time I'm out there playing and, like I said before, you just keep on competing with the guys you have the workout with.

What kind of team would you like to play with?

TH: At this point it doesn't really matter. I've been projected in so many areas. I know that just playing for Michigan, that's in the Midwest region, a lot of those teams are looking at me very closely.

You were raised in Florida, you played college basketball in Michigan. I guess you're not afraid of moving wherever it takes?

TH: Wherever it takes. I'm going to play ball. It doesn't matter the team I play for as long as I can have the opportunity

Do you have any expectations on where you can be drafted?

TH: I'm just trying to compete. I really want to try to get in that mid-teams area, like around 15th, 16th, 17th. That's my goal. I wasn't projected there at the start of this process. So that's my goal, to get there and I think I have a chance.

Did you get any advice from your father about dealing with NBA teams and NBA people?

TH: He said just to be myself, to have fun, don't worry about your mistakes. Do what you can do out on the court. Don't do anything out of the ordinary that you can't do. Just work hard and play hard.

You've worked out with other draft players. Is there anyone that has surprised you?

TH: Isaiah Canaan. He's doing a tremendous job during the workouts I've been with him. All I can say is that a lot of guys are giving a lot of effort. It's kind of hard at this point because the guys I'm working out with are projected in the same light as I am. It's back and forth, here and there, so you just have to go there and compete.

Do you see them as rivals while you work out?

TH: You don't see them as rivals but you definitely see them as people you have to compete with in order to get a spot because they're fighting for the same spot that you are. So you have to go out there and show the coaches that you can do the things a little bit more than the other person. They're not rivals but they are guys that are out trying to take your spot.

Are you rooting for the Heat in this Finals?

TH: I am from Miami so I've been a Heat fan ever since I was a kid. My dad played for the Heat so that's where I grew up, I went to middle school, to high school there. I've been cheering for the Heat for as long as I can rembember but I guess I won't be cheering for them after this year.

Do you think they're going to win?

TH: I can't count on it. The Spurs are a great team, they work very, very hard. They have kept the same team for a long time. So I'm up for a great Finals and whoever wins is the better team.

You're going to start a new chapter in your life, playing pro basketball in the NBA. Do you think you'll miss college life?

TH: There's nothing like it. Those are the best four years of your life. I'm definitely going back to get my degree, whenever it's next summer or the summer after that just to finish up. I'm gonna promise my family and my fans that. I'm gonna stick with it. College is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have and definitely you want to make the most of it when you're there because it's the only time that you have just to be yourself and have fun and not worry about the real world.

Read More