Boston Celtics on December 8, Hardaway earned his first NBA start. With Carmelo Anthony and Raymond Felton sitting out the Christmas Day game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Hardaway matched his career high with 21 points. Hardaway was one of three nominees for Eastern Conference NBA Rookie of the Month for December. Hardaway received a lot of publicity for a January 9 dunk over Ray Allen. On January 29, he was named a Rising Stars Challenge participant as part of the 2014 NBA All-Star Game weekend. The following night Hardaway set a career high with a game high (tied with Carmelo Anthony) 29 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Hardaway was one of four nominees for Eastern Conference NBA Rookie of the Month for January. In the February 14 Rising Stars Challenge, Hardaway had 36 points, including 7 three-point shots, many coming in a one-on-one battle with Dion Waiters. Hardaway was one of three finalists for February Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month, but he lost to Victor Oladipo. After stringing together three consecutive 20-point games, Hardaway was a finalist for NBA Player of the Week on March 17 and for Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in March. He was also a finalist for Eastern Conference Player of the Month in April. Hardaway finished fifth in the NBA Rookie of the Year Award balloting. As a result of his fifth-place finish in the separate NBA All-Rookie Team voting he was a first team NBA All-Rookie selection.