LOOK: Mavs’ Jaden Hardy Hangs Out with Lil Baby; Signs ‘Rare’ Jersey
How good of a rookie season did Dallas Mavericks second-year man Jaden Hardy have? Well, the 21-year-old is already hanging out with big-time celebrities if that tells you anything.
On Sunday, Hardy posted a handful of pictures on his Instagram page with the caption, “Watch me shake the world and wake up everyone who been sleeping on me.” Those are lyrics from rap star Lil Baby’s song, “Double Down,” and fittingly, one of the pictures Hardy posted was of him and Lil Baby.
Hardy gave Lil Baby a signed No. 3 jersey, which could end up being a rare collector’s item in the future, as Hardy changed to No. 1 after the Mavs acquired Grant Williams from the Boston Celtics in a three-team sign-and-trade a few weeks ago. During Hardy’s rookie season, he averaged 8.8 points while shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 40.1 percent from deep. However, in five starts toward the end of the season, Hardy’s efficiency dropped, but his averages increased to 21.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists.
During the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Hardy led the Mavs with a scoring average of 24 points per game while also showing some improved play on the defensive end of the floor as well — something that could potentially keep him in head coach Jason Kidd’s rotation this season. Hardy wasn’t able to complete Summer League play due to a shoulder contusion, but it wasn’t considered to be a serious injury. Hardy should be fully healthy and ready to go for Mavs training camp, which begins in September.
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