Hardaway Jr. back with Knicks after Hawks pass to match

The New York Knicks officially signed restricted free agent guard Tim Hardaway Jr. on Saturday after the Atlanta Hawks decided not to match the Knicks’ offer sheet.

The decision allows the 25-year-old Hardaway to return to New York on a four-year, $71 million deal, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Hawks had 48 hours to match the offer, but they delivered official notification to the NBA and Knicks before the deadline of 11 p.m. ET on Saturday.

The Knicks drafted Hardaway with the 24th overall pick in 2013. The shooting guard played his first two seasons with the Knicks before being traded on draft day in 2015 to Atlanta.

During the 2016-17 season, the 6-foot-5, 205-pound Hardaway recorded career-highs in scoring (14.5 points per game), assists (2.3), rebounds (2.8), minutes played (27.3), field-goal percentage (.455), 3-pointers made (149) and attempted (417) and free throws made (164) and attempted (214).

Overall, the four-year NBA veteran has appeared in 281 games (62 starts) and averaged 11.0 points and 23.4 minutes.

“Bringing back Tim to his original NBA home is an exciting time for him and this franchise,” Knicks general manager Steve Mills said in a statement. “As a versatile wing whose game continues to improve, he will fit right into the core of players that make up a roster emphasizing youth, athleticism, accountability and unselfishness.”

Hardaway appeared in 151 games for the Knicks over two seasons, averaging 10.8 points and 23.5 minutes, before being traded to the Hawks on draft day in 2015.

His father, five-time NBA All-Star Tim Hardaway, is an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons.