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New York Knicks: Tracking the development of Tim Hardaway Jr.

By Maxwell Ogden

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 25: Tim Hardaway Jr. #5 of the New York Knicks looks on during warmups before the game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on February 25, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 25: Tim Hardaway Jr. #5 of the New York Knicks looks on during warmups before the game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on February 25, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 10: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Tim Hardaway Jr. #5 of the New York Knicks in action against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on November 10, 2014 in New York City. The Hawks defeated the Knicks 91-85. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 10: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Tim Hardaway Jr. #5 of the New York Knicks in action against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on November 10, 2014 in New York City. The Hawks defeated the Knicks 91-85. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

2014-15

Usage Rate: 22.3
Slash Line: .435/.342/.801
True Shooting Percentage: .512
Season Averages: 24.0 MPG, 11.5 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.3 SPG, 1.7 3PM
Per 36 Averages: 17.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.4 steals, 2.6 3-point field goals made

The 2014-15 NBA regular season was difficult for the New York Knicks. New York won a franchise-worst 17 games, lost Carmelo Anthony to a knee injury, and traded a number of its foundational pieces at various parts of the season.

Knowing the context of the situation, it remains fair to state that Hardaway Jr. experienced a sophomore slump in 2014-15—to an extent.

Hardaway Jr. shot 6.3 percent worse on 2-point field goals and 2.1 percent worst on 3-point field goals as a sophomore than he did as a freshman. That’s admittedly to be expected when one considers that his usage rate jumped from 18.0 percent to 22.3 percent.

He attempted just 2.2 more field goal attempts and 0.7 more 3-point field goal attempts per 36 minutes, however, which isn’t the most significant of increases.

What 2014-15 firmly displayed was just how ill-prepared Hardaway Jr. was for the role of a featured scorer. It also displayed how powerful his work ethic is, however, as he improved his assists per 36 minutes average by a healthy 1.4.

It was far from a perfect season, and it wasn’t even close to the last sophomore slump the NBA will witness, but Hardaway Jr. undeniably regressed.

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