Tim Hardaway Jr.

Pinpointing the prior season’s weaknesses one-by-one, the Detroit Pistons found two that could be immediately addressed through free agency: veteran leadership and 3-point shooting. Among the many signings dedicated to fulfilling those needs, Tim Hardaway Jr. did his part in making sure the desired results arrived with identical quickness. Taking all of 15 seconds before working his way into a patented off-ball screen curl, Hardaway Jr. sprints himself free against Tyrese Haliburton’s pursuit, balancing into a high-release 3-pointer to open the 2024-25 season’s scoring. Following that trifecta with another just a few possessions later, Hardaway Jr. set the tone for a memorable opener in the Pistons’ blue-and-red threads, as he produced a 14-point, one-rebound, one-assist, one-steal entry, alongside four 3-pointers. Such a shooting display helped the Pistons, even in defeat, keep pace with the Indiana Pacers in a competitive loss on October 23, 2024.