2022 NBA Draft: #37 Jaden Hardy (6' 3", 6' 9" WS) to DAL | two 2nds to SAC

[hakeemfaan]

The most interesting things from Nico to me on Hardy:

1) They massively valued the fact that he struggled and didn't quit and kept growing to figure out how to be a better player in the GLeague context. This is an intangible thing that is really, really important to NBA success.

2) They massively valued the fact that he was the alpha dog on that G League ignite team and that even the vets would look to him and give him the ball. 

I very much agree with these two things and it makes me much more optimistic about this pick and also Nico's draft team.

Couple of other things:

He was playing against older folks who are genuinely fighting to get a chance and good enough to make the G League, as opposed to most college players who are playing against kids their age, many of whom will never make the G League. 

G League is not as glamorous or cushy a life as a major college program where the players, especially the top dogs like Hardy would have been, are pampered and treated like royalty. 

So the fact that he fought through and kept improving definitely says something about his work ethic and mental makeup.