For four years, Will Hardy has been coaching the Utah Jazz with one hand tied behind his back. So it stands to reason that when he is released from all restraints, as he will be next season, we’ll see a side to him that has yet to reveal itself.
Hardy isn’t willing to admit that he’s going to be any different. He has coached players hard and attempted to demand a standard of effort and understanding. He has tried to maximize the potential of each of the players who has worn a Jazz jersey and has shown almost every angle of his personality to his players.
But, Hardy isn’t able/permitted/allowed to say that the Jazz have been outright tanking for four years. He can’t say that he has made lineup decisions to alter the outcome of a game. He can’t say that the decisions of his superiors have changed the way that he has coached. He can’t say that he has had a different approach, knowing that the result of a game doesn’t matter.
Frankly, Hardy might not realize how much he’s been held back over the last few years. He’s spent a long time in the NBA on coaching staffs but as an NBA head coach, the only thing he’s ever known has been this rebuilding team. Coaching a team that is built to try to contend in the Western Conference will be a wholly new thing for him.
After some needling, Hardy was willing to concede a bit, suggesting that he might be a little more intense, depending on the situation.
“The dosage may be different on certain things,” he said. “But I feel like I’m pretty open and honest with the team.”
There’s probably not a player on the Jazz roster that understands Hardy’s honesty more than Keyonte George. The third-year guard has seen everything from Hardy — hard coaching, criticism, anger, frustration, pride, encouragement, understanding, competitiveness, exasperation, resignation, annoyance and love.
Even so, George is convinced that Hardy is going to show a new side of himself next season.
“Oh, absolutely,” he said with a knowing laugh and shake of his head. “Will is already a maniac and he’s gonna have his moments. But I know Will, and I know he wants the best for us, so whatever that looks like from Will — I know there’ll be a lot of screaming and yelling — it’s gonna make us great.”
Players are expected to make leaps and change when they grow and are introduced to new situations and circumstances. Some players pride themselves on staying even-keeled throughout their NBA careers, but even the most stoic show a more ferocious and unrestrained side when they are pushed to be better and do more and when they are winning at the highest level.
The same can be true of coaches, across all sports and at all levels. I don’t care who you are, there’s a difference when the stakes are low compared to win every possession, every game, everything matters.
It’s going to be different when Hardy is being judged just as much as the players for the on-court product. It’s going to be different when Hardy has complete control of the roster, the minutes, and is responsible for the results.
It’s exciting to think that there is something more that we will be seeing from Hardy. After four years of waiting, fans will not only be able to root again for wins over losses and cheer for something positive, but they will finally get to see, who Will Hardy is — every side of him.
