How Tim Hardaway Jr.’s leadership affects the young Pistons

On By Littum

The Detroit Pistons call it BTA. Jalen Duren defines the acronym as “Belt To Ass.”

The belt has a blue base, red lining, the team logo in the center with an outline of a basketball behind it, a small WWE logo at the top and an NBA logo at the bottom. It also has spiral red and white lines around the logo, and Detroit’s area code 313 is represented.

It was slung over the shoulder of Tim Hardaway Jr. as he left the locker room after Detroit’s 20th win of the season on Saturday. Hardaway scored 27 points in the win over the visiting Toronto Raptors. He made a season-high seven 3-pointers on just eight attempts in his highest scoring output in a calendar year. For his big night, he received the honor of the BTA.

Isaiah Stewart started the trend on Jan. 8 after the Pistons defeated the Brooklyn Nets to win their fifth straight game. The belt winner must be the player who has the most influence in a victory. The Pistons player who earns it gets to take it home and wear it to practice or on the team plane.

Hardaway, 32, is the elder statesman on the team. The 12th year guard is four months older than Tobias Harris. Hardaway is everyone’s OG on this list, which means he’s now able to share the wisdom he’s picked up on his long NBA journey.

On the court, Hardaway provides vital spacing to his shooting by helping spread the court for Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey.

Off the court, Hardaway provides a veteran presence. That role may be as important as his 3-point shooting on the fourth-youngest team (average age is 24) in the NBA.

“I’m just trying to bring that inspiration, that drive and that gritty mentality,” Hardaway shared Athletics. “And just that veteran presence, not just with myself, but Tobias and (Beasley). It’s great, we’re here for a good cause. We’re here to help the young guys and do the best we can for to make their jobs easier out there on the floor.

“They do a great job of listening and being sponges.”

Hardaway has taken a keen interest in the development and growth of 19-year-old rookie Ron Holland II, which is appreciated.

“He’s like a father,” Holland joked before Detroit’s game against the New York Knicks on Monday. “When it comes to leadership with him, he tries to get me on my businessman stuff. Really just taking care of my body, building a routine, stuff like that. He’s looking ahead, the longevity of my career.”

Hardaway also encourages the youngster to believe in himself.

“With him and me, it’s going to be about confidence,” Holland continued. “He’ll tell me to miss, just keep shooting it. Don’t stop, there’s too many games in a season. He’ll ask me how long I plan to do this. And I plan to do this for a very long time, so it will be a lot of pictures in the world for me to miss and make.

“So just keep doing it, don’t let anybody tell you you can’t, just keep getting in the gym and keep working.”

But it’s not just about taking care of business on the field. When you’re a rookie in any league, extra duties are required.

“He’s on my ass about towels,” Holland laughed. “With his routine, he’s there before anybody. To the facility, practice, whatever. It’s just fun, we call him the grandfather of the team.”

The presence of Hardaway, who was traded to the Pistons this offseason for Quentin Grimes, has been essential in Detroit’s climb out of the NBA groove.

Along with Harris and even Malik Beasley, who despite being 28 years old is in his eighth year in the league, Hardaway is a blueprint for professionalism. He knows how to manage the laughs of the season and not be swayed by the ups and downs.

“When I watch the games, you just constantly see them do what they do every night, so well, to the best of their ability,” Duren said recently. “It’s something we needed. We needed so bad to be a young team, we just needed consistent vets.

“They’re vets that not only perform on the field but off the field. … They’re very vocal, they’re not guys that are by themselves, they’re part of the group.”

With the Dallas Mavericks last season, Hardaway reached the NBA Finals. Now he plays for a team that is happy to be over .500 and is averaging its fewest points per game. game since the 2015-16 season with the Atlanta Hawks.

But it doesn’t matter. He starts every game and plays close to 28 minutes per game. night, but doesn’t get the look he’s used to.

Against the Raptors, he attempted 13 shots. It was just the 14th time this season in 35 appearances that he reached double figures. Last season he came off the bench with the Mavericks and had 56 games with at least 10 shots.

But perspective tells him to appreciate his position instead of being bitter about what he doesn’t have. The career he has and can still have is because of the veteran players he had early in his career: Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler, Kenyon Martin and JR Smith. They fed him wisdom that fuels him today.

“Just to have those guys around me to show me what being a vet is all about,” Hardaway said. “They made my life a lot easier and made sure I understood what a true professional does. So I’m just happy to be able to see it through their lenses and bring it here to the Pistons organization.”

Hardaway’s leadership is even evident during postgame press conferences. On Saturday, he interjected when a reporter referred to Cunningham as one of the best guards in the Eastern Conference. It wasn’t good enough for him.

“In the NBA, yes,” Hardaway said.

When Ivey hit his first game-winner of the season, Hardaway gave him the celebrity treatment.

Everyone’s attention in the postgame news conference room shifted when they heard a loud bang. Ivey was in the middle of addressing the media, and the noise surprised everyone.

It was just Hardaway. He imitated a fan knocking on the glass so that passersby can see into the room. His excitement for his younger teammate was evident.

“Oh my God! Oh my God! Who is that?” Hardaway jokingly yelled through the glass. “Gah-lee. You’re good, boy. You’re really good!”

And just a few games ago, when Holland was in the middle of an interview, Hardaway interrupted so he could hype his rookie. He could be heard screaming, “Yes, Ron! Yes, Ron!” as he walked past Holland on his way to the locker room.

These interactions highlight the intangibles that make Hardaway such a valuable piece of Detroit’s puzzle. He is an asset with his range, shooting and experience. But for the Pistons to maximize their potential, they need Hardaway’s leadership to lead a 14-68 team a season ago to its first postseason berth in six seasons.

“I’m glad he’s here for it, just because he knows what it takes,” Holland said of Hardaway. “He’s done it, he knows all the sacrifices and everything, so I’m glad I have him around.”

(Photo of Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr.: Rocky Widner / NBAE via Getty Images)