Jason Kidd: Mavs 'Need' Tim Hardaway Jr. to Win NBA Championship

"Yeah, I think it's about work. I think it's about being able to talk to Timmy and see what he's thinking. You know, a lot of times we just look at the X and O's, but there could be stuff that could be going on off the court,” Kidd said.

"They're human, and so just understand we've all been in a slump shooting the ball or playing the game of basketball, or sometimes just in life, we could be in a slump. And so being able to find out who is truly on your side to try to help you through that [is important]. That's what we're here to do is help him through that.”

Kidd took it one step further, saying Hardaway is key to the Mavs being able to compete for a championship this season.

"We trust and need Timmy if we want to win a championship,” Kidd said.

For the last several years, the Mavs have been reliant — probably too reliant — on Hardaway’s high-volume 3-point shooting to help them get wins. Despite Dallas adding new key pieces in Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington, it still might need Hardaway's efficiency to increase again for the team to get back on track ... that is, unless Kidd wants to plug second-year man Jaden Hardy, who was scorching the nets before the All-Star break, into Hardaway's place.