Like many, Michael Wilbon knew Luka Doncic needed some help on Sunday night.
And the NBA Countdown analyst was even willing to put a name on it, calling on veteran swingman Tim Hardaway Jr. to provide that spark.
“Let me say this: Dallas needs somebody else. Luka can’t be himself physically, not the way this game is starting,” Wilbon said on ESPN’s pregame show ahead of Game 2 of the NBA Finals. “I’m going to nominate somebody. Tim Hardaway Jr., a veteran player who’s been in big games. Wasn’t he a DNP in the first half [of Game 1]? Can’t have that. So if we’re going to pick somebody to help out, Josh [Hart] knows, Tim Hardway Jr. can get hot and be important and be a factor in these games.”
The bad news for Wilbon? Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd clearly didn’t agree with his assessment.
The good news? If anybody, for some reason, placed any prop bets based on the Pardon the Interruption co-host’s analysis, they likely got their money back, as Hardaway didn’t log a single minute in the game, which he finished with the dreaded “DNP-Coach’s Decision” label.
Michael Wilbon on NBA Countdown prior to Game 2 of the NBA Finals: “Dallas needs somebody else… I’m going to nominate somebody: Tim Hardaway Jr., a veteran player who’s been in big games.”
Hardaway Jr. proceeded to be a DNP-Coach’s Decision in the game. pic.twitter.com/HWP5kYb5GB
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 10, 2024
This wasn’t exactly a freezing cold take, as Wilbon was offering more analysis than a prediction. And considering that the Mavericks now find themselves facing an 0-2 series deficit following their Game 2 loss to the Boston Celtics, it’s not like Kidd can take a victory lap on not playing Hardaway.
Still, even without the benefit of hindsight, Wilbon’s suggestion that Hardaway was one of the keys to Game 2 was a curious one. The son of Hall of Fame point guard Tim Hardaway has clearly fallen out of favor in Dallas this postseason and was a “DNP-Coach’s Decision” for the final three games of the Western Conference Finals and hasn’t logged more than 12 minutes in a game since Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
As Wilbon even alluded to, Hardaway Jr. only played eight minutes in Game 1 of the NBA Finals — none of which came in the first half. Ultimately, it was hardly surprising to see him stuck to the bench in Game 2, which made it all the more surprising to hear an analyst on ESPN’s pregame show (and halftime show) nominate him as a potential X-factor for it.
[NBA Countdown]
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.