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Back when they were members of Gregg Popovich's Spurs coaching staff, Mitch Johnson and Will Hardy had a blast as teammates in the assistants' pickup basketball games. "We never got to play one-on-one (basketball)," Johnson said. "That would be a very slow, painful matchup."
Johnson's quip reflects the bond the young coaches share. In his second season as leader of the Spurs, Johnson counts Hardy, who is in his fifth season guiding the Utah Jazz, as one of his best friends in the profession. "I hope he loses only the (three) games we play (against each other)," Johnson said. "He's a good person."
The Spurs and Jazz play again for the final time this season Nov. 15 at the Delta Center. The friendship between the coaches began in 2016 after Johnson joined the Spurs as an asxsistant with the Austin Spurs in the G League following a one-year stint as an assistant at the University of Portland. When the Spurs promoted Johnson to Popovich's staff in 2019, Hardy, who joined the Spurs before the 2015-16 season, helped show him the ropes. "Will Hardy and Chip Engelland were the two guys that took me under their wings and definitely helped me with the unwritten rules and the lay of the land," Johnson said.
Even Will Hardy has seen some of that indecisiveness from Peterson. “He is a team player and wants to win,” Hardy said. “He is just caught a little in between. I see him coming off some ball screens, and he’s looking for his teammates, and in those moments he is the one that’s open. This is all very normal. … He’s getting thrown right into the fire and I think he’s handling himself great. I don’t want him to over worry about past possessions. We’ve had a few moments where he looks over, and he’s like, ‘My bad.’ We don’t need to do that right now. … I recognize he’s dealing with a lot. It’s a lot happening. It’s a new team, new coach, new terminology and play calls. On top of the fact that he’s a rookie in the NBA.”
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Damichael Cole: Will Hardy said his biggest concern is rebounding (an area that could be a strength for Memphis). Tuomas Iisalo talked about how Utah has some skilled bigs that will present a challenge for most teams. Those strengths and how either team neutralizes the other will be crucial.
Shreyas Laddha: Will Hardy on playing Jaxson Hayes: I think we are going to blend size with some of the smalls. I think you will see a variety of lineups with how many bigs you have on the court.
Will Hardy: “Darryn (Peterson) has been really humble from the moment that he got to us in terms of willingness to try to understand better what is happening around him. He asks a lot of questions and it is going to give him the opportunity to be a pretty good player because I think sensitivity to feedback is something you have to get rid of if you really want to become the best version of yourself. We are all trying to help him, just like we are trying to help all the guys on our team. To date, I think he is processing it pretty well. I understand that there is a lot happening for a rookie and you would have to ask him in terms of how it feels, but from my standpoint, I think he has played with a lot of poise.”
Will Hardy: “My job is to give Darryn (Peterson) a lot of feedback. I need to pick the moments appropriately and I need to prioritize what he needs to hear now versus what he may need to hear later (...) I have preached to our young players for years now that there is a difference between playing poorly and shooting poorly. I thought that Darryn a couple of times made really good choices and just missed. If those shots go in, maybe he feels differently. Darryn has been a great learner and he is willing to receive feedback. My responsibility, not just with him but with our whole team, is prioritizing what is important for them to hear tomorrow versus what can wait.”
Jusuf Nurkić on why he chose to re-sign with the Jazz: "The number one reason is Will Hardy, the coach. The organization did a part, the owners did a part, obviously my teammates, but I have so much faith in Will. He was communicating with me the whole summer pretty much, and then when everything kind of back and forth ended up and finally we agree."
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Shreyas Laddha: Jusuf Nurkić on his reasons for coming back to the Jazz: The number one reason is Will Hardy, the coach... I have so much faith in Will.
Shreyas Laddha: Jaren Jackson Jr on Will Hardy: He's very transparent. Great communicator. Someone that says it like it is. I hold myself to a high standard and I know he's going to hold me to that as well.
Shreyas Laddha: Will Hardy: I don't think whoever starts opening night, that's not a declaration to the world that's starting five for the foreseeable future. Things can change. That's not necessarily a demotion when things do change.
