Hardy got his start in the NBA next to Luka Doncic, and he says the support he got back then still helps him today.
Shooting guard Jaden Hardy spent about a year and a half away from Luka Doncic, and now the two are back in the same locker room.
The Los Angeles Lakers got Hardy from the Washington Wizards in a trade that became official on July 7, with center Deandre Ayton going to Washington, and the move put Hardy right back next to the star who helped him find his way as a young player.
Hardy and Doncic were teammates in Dallas from Hardy's rookie season in 2022-23 until the Mavericks traded Doncic to the Lakers on Feb. 2, 2025.
That stretch included a run to the NBA Finals in Hardy's second season, when he played 73 games for Dallas.
Hardy Remembers What Doncic Did for Him
Hardy talked about how Doncic has grown as a leader since their time together in Dallas in a clip posted by Khobi Price on Monday.
He also explained what Doncic meant to him in a video for the team.
"Whenever I was playing alongside Luka, he used to always instill confidence into the young players, tell them to keep going and I feel like that helped me a lot when I was a rookie," Hardy said on the Lakers' YouTube channel, via Lakers Nation.
Hardy added that Doncic was someone he could lean on and talk to during that Finals run.
He also said he reached out to Doncic after the trade to tell him how excited he was, and Doncic welcomed him back and said the two would put in good work together.
I like that Doncic took the time to lift up a second-round pick back then.
He has talked about his own mindset for this season, and Hardy's story shows he already knows how to lead young players.
A Grade 2 left hamstring strain kept Doncic out of the end of the regular season and the Lakers' entire postseason run, but he told reporters at media day that he has no restrictions heading into camp.
Where Hardy Fits
Hardy played 57 games last season between Dallas and Washington, averaging 9.2 points and shooting 39.7 percent from three.
He was even better after the February trade, scoring 12.6 points per game in 23 games with the Wizards.
He is making $6 million this season, and the Lakers hold a team option on him for 2027-28.
Head coach JJ Redick listed Hardy among the guards who can handle the ball and create offense, as long as he is in the lineup, after a recent practice.
There is a real case that Hardy is in line for a breakout year, and a strong camp would help him as the Lakers work through their final roster decisions.
If Hardy can knock down shots and give the second unit a lift, he will earn real minutes, and playing next to a leader he already trusts should make that easier.
What Comes Next
The Lakers open the preseason on Monday, Oct. 5, at Sacramento, and they visit the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday at Chase Center.
The regular season begins Wednesday, Oct. 21, when they host Golden State at Crypto.com Arena.
Monday could give fans their first look at this reunion in a game.
