Tim Hardaway Jr. Denies Dad's Harsh Criticism of Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving: 'Nothing But Leadership'

Tim Hardaway Jr. defended the leadership qualities of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving on Wednesday after his dad bashed them on FS1's The Carton Show.

Tim Hardaway Sr. made waves on Wednesday's news cycle when he made an appearance on FS1's The Carton Show and bashed Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving's leadership qualities for the Dallas Mavericks.

"That trade wasn't for them, what isn't broken doesn't need to be fixed. They're missing a leader out there. Luka is not a leader, Kyrie is not a leader," Hardaway Sr. said.

“A leader shows by example too, by playing defense. When he says something, he does it also, and thats what a leader is. And like I said, those two guys are not leaders, they're complimentary, dominant great basketball players. Great scorers."

Well, ahead of the Mavs' matchup with the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday – a game Dallas ended up winning 123-119 with Doncic and Irving combining for 60 points – Tim Hardaway Jr. adamantly denied his dad's claims about his teammates in a lengthy statement.

"I didn't wake up this morning thinking that I had to focus in on this topic, but it is my dad," Hardaway Jr. said. "I love him dearly. He's been in his league for so many years now, so just for him to say that, I disagree with it 1000 percent. I've come out numerous of times and told you all how much leadership Luka has shown throughout my whole entire time here in Dallas. He shows it on and off the floor, and a lot of the situations that we've been in as a team, we wouldn't be in without him. So let's just set that straight.

"And Kyrie has been nothing [other] than a leader since he's been here -- making sure that everybody's good on and off the floor, texting everybody in in our group in the player-only just to make sure everybody's good, everybody's holding together, staying strong. Nothing but leadership there. So it's just hard, just to deal with that."

Hardaway Jr. continued: "I love those guys. I love my teammates. I loved every team and teammates that I've been a part of and been with. So just to be focusing in on this instead of the game, it's disappointing that I have to come out here and say this. I love him to death. Like I said, my dad made a mistake. It's his opinion, not mine. We're two different human beings."

Based on talks we’ve had with Mavs people, including players, we always believed there was a good chance Hardaway Sr.'s assessment of the situation was off. The biggest issues in Dallas don't revolve around leadership, they revolve around not having an adequate amount of two-way talent on the roster.

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