In a candid appearance on FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back,” Tim Hardaway Sr. delivered a pointed message to the Denver Nuggets: bring his son back. For a franchise at a crossroads after a frustrating first-round exit, the veteran guard’s father isn’t just offering familial support—he’s articulating a basketball truth that may resonate louder than many expected.
Hardaway Jr., who turned 34 this season, signed a one-year veteran’s minimum deal with Denver last summer. What many viewed as a low-risk depth addition turned into one of the more productive bench performances in the Western Conference. THJ averaged 13.5 points per game and shot a career-high 40.7% from three-point range during the regular season, earning Sixth Man of the Year finalist honors. His shooting gravity and experience provided valuable spacing for Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets’ offense.
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“I still think they need Tim Hardaway Jr. there to come off the bench,” Hardaway Sr. declared. He went further, arguing that Denver should run it back next season. According to the elder Hardaway, a fully healthy Nuggets squad would have advanced past the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round.
The comments carry extra weight because few people understand Tim Hardaway Jr.’s mindset better than his father. While no official word has come from the player himself, Sr.’s public stance suggests that loyalty and fit could factor heavily into THJ’s upcoming free agency decisions.
Financial Reality Meets Championship Aspirations
Denver’s situation is complicated. The Nuggets currently have 11 players under contract for next season and are already bumping up against the second tax apron. Josh Kroenke recently stated that “everything is on the table” except trading Nikola Jokić, leaving open the possibility of running it back with the core intact. Re-signing key contributors like Peyton Watson and Hardaway Jr. would likely be priorities in that scenario.
However, the apron penalties create real constraints. The most Denver can offer Hardaway on a new deal is approximately $4.7 million for the 2026-27 season—roughly $2.5 million more than he earned this past year. Other teams desperate for proven shooting and veteran leadership could present more lucrative offers on the open market.
Despite the money potentially available elsewhere, Hardaway Jr. appeared to genuinely enjoy his time in Denver. That intangible matters, especially for a 34-year-old veteran chasing his first NBA championship. A return on a team-friendly deal could position him for a deeper postseason run alongside Jokić, Jamal Murray, and company.
The Bigger Picture
Hardaway Sr.’s comments arrive at a pivotal moment for the Nuggets. After years of contention built around their MVP center, Denver must decide whether to tweak the roster meaningfully or trust that health and continuity will push them back among the Western Conference elite. Running it back is logistically possible but requires ownership to navigate the luxury tax waters they have historically preferred to avoid.
Bringing back Hardaway off the bench would inject shooting, experience, and proven chemistry without dramatically altering the rotation. It wouldn’t be the flashiest move, but as Sr. implied, it could be one of the smartest.
Whether the Nuggets and Tim Hardaway Jr. can find common financial ground remains to be seen. Yet the message from one of the game’s respected voices is clear: Denver still needs that shooting punch, and the player who provided it may be open to making it work.
For a franchise searching for answers after another early exit, sometimes the hardest truths come from the most unexpected places—straight from a father who knows exactly what his son can still bring to a championship contender.