Tim Hardaway Jr. Joined Miami Heat This Summer
The 34-year-old Palmetto High alumnus signed a one-year, $6.5 million contract with his hometown team.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Basketball
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After spending 13 seasons playing for other NBA franchises, Miami native Tim Hardaway Jr. signed a one-year deal to play for the Miami Heat this past summer. He returned home to join the organization where his father, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member Tim Hardaway Sr., starred in the 1990s.
Why it matters
The veteran marksman provides a boost for the Heat bench after finishing third in NBA Sixth Man of the Year voting last season. He brings experience to the rotation following a productive campaign where he shot 40.7% from three-point range.
Hardaway Jr. recorded 5 of 9 shooting from three-point range during his first two preseason games. This follows a regular season where he shot 44.7% from the field and finished third in Sixth Man of the Year voting.
The players
Tim Hardaway Jr.
A 34-year-old veteran NBA player and Palmetto High School graduate who signed with the Miami Heat.
Tim Hardaway Sr.
A Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee who played for the Miami Heat during the 1990s.
Miami Heat
The professional basketball team based in Miami that signed Hardaway Jr. to a one-year contract.
The details
Hardaway Jr. joined the Heat in free agency with the specific goal of playing for the franchise that defined his father's career. He is expected to bolster the team from the bench at the Kaseya Center. The veteran has already hit the ground running in preseason play and expects to visit local spots like Hungry Bear Sub Shop and Chicken Kitchen in the coming weeks.
Timeline
1990s: Tim Hardaway Sr. played for the Miami Heat.
2022: Tim Hardaway Sr. was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Summer 2026: Tim Hardaway Jr. signed with the Miami Heat.
October 2026: Hardaway Jr. played in preseason games for the Heat.
Beyond the 305
The move follows the 2022 induction of Tim Hardaway Sr. into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. It marks a homecoming for the family name, rooting the latest roster addition firmly in the franchise's history.
Fans heading to the Kaseya Center this season will see the Palmetto High graduate playing a key bench role for the Heat. His arrival adds a local connection to the bench rotation as the team aims to build on his 40.7% three-point shooting efficiency from last year.
The takeaway
The addition of a high-percentage shooter gives the Heat a proven weapon off the bench this season. Keep an eye on the box scores during the upcoming home games to see how quickly he integrates into the team's rotation.
Further reading
You can find more coverage on local professional play at Miami Basketball.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Miami Herald.
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