The Hart and Soul of NYC.
At the start of last season when we did a meet the staff piece, my answer to who my favorite current Knick was Josh Hart. I stated that “I’ve always loved the fan favorites who come off the bench and love the crowd as much as the crowd loves them. The guys who get the people going and can lead the team when called upon.”
He had shown hard work, determination, and a gritty style of play on both ends of the court without ever demanding the ball. He had embraced the city, and his style of play embodied that. There were plenty of times that no other Knick looked happier to wear the orange and blue than Hart.
Since then, Hart’s game has not only evolved—it has soared to new heights. Last season, when the Knicks needed him most, he elevated his play to an unprecedented level. Over the final 49 games, Hart played nearly 41 minutes per contest, delivering some of the finest performances of his career. He posted averages of 12.9 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game, punctuated by three triple-doubles. Statistically, it was the most productive stretch of his career, and his impact on both ends of the floor was immeasurable.
Whether it was the sugar rush from his pregame Mike and Ike’s or the adrenaline of fighting for a championship, Hart became the team’s heartbeat. In the playoffs, he was indispensable, logging 548 out of a possible 629 minutes. While Jalen Brunson assumed the role of the Knicks’ Batman, Hart had unquestionably earned the mantle of Robin. Together, this tandem became a force to be reckoned with, propelling the Knicks all the way to Game 7 of the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals.
It’s been years since the city has embraced two Knicks the way it has Hart and Brunson, harking back to the iconic duo of Ewing and Starks. But it wasn’t just the fans who embraced them—the players reciprocated in kind. Even after the devastating Game 7 defeat, Hart and Brunson took to 7th Avenue return their love by high-fiving fans who had been waiting to celebrate their valiant effort. Their bond with the city only deepened over the summer, when thousands gathered at Bryant Park to witness a live taping of their podcast, Roommates.
Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
As this new season looms, Knicks fans can expect the same intensity and passion from Hart—when he’s on the floor. The major caveat to that previous sentence, however, is when he is on the court. Hart will still be one of the Knicks’ main role players, and no one should expect less. But, with the addition of Mikal Bridges at the starting small forward position, and a healthy OG Anunoby slated for the starting four spot, it appears that Hard will be the victim of change and assume the role of Knicks’ sixth man.
“The scoring aspect will have to sacrifice — I mean the last couple of games I got like two shots,” Hart told The Athletic last week. “That’s something I’m going to have to sacrifice. It’ll be a little different role. Last year, especially at certain times, when I had certain guards on me, it would be pick-and-rolls and putting those guys in actions. I would be in the short pocket and make those kinds of decisions. That’s probably something I won’t be doing too much this year. Right now, it’s just focusing on defending, rebounding, pushing it in the fast break and trying to get those guys easier looks and find those guys when they’re open and rock with that.”
From the moment Hart joined the Knicks, he understood his role, embraced it, and excelled in whatever was asked of him. That mindset remains attitude and it doesn’t appear that Knicks fans should expect anything less from the man who wears his heart on his sleeve, and in his hair.
Photo by David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images