Knicks’ Josh Hart Spent Day Off ‘Forgetting’ He’s a Basketball Player

Dan Gartland | May 14, 2024

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Even by NBA standards, New York Knicks forward Josh Hart hasn’t had much chance to rest over the past few months. Since entering the starting lineup on Jan. 29, Hart has played a whopping 40.8 minutes per game, by far the most in the NBA. So when Hart and the Knicks had an off day on Monday following Sunday’s brutal blowout loss in Indiana in Game 4, he took full advantage.

“Yesterday for me, it was more mentally trying to detach, get away,” Hart said Tuesday, according to Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News. “My wife and I got pedicures, so that was nice. It was relaxing. Yesterday for me, it was more mental, so I just got away from the game. Forgot I was a basketball player. I was just a regular guy. Just a husband, dad, and just had a good day.”

Hart and the Knicks are in serious need of a reset after their Game 4 debacle. New York got smoked, 121–89, as the Pacers took both games in Indiana to tie the series at two games apiece. Hart had just two points, three rebounds and two assists after entering the game averaging 17.1 points and 13.3 rebounds per game in the postseason.

If there was a silver lining to emerge from Game 4, though, it’s that Hart and some of his overworked teammates got to get some extra rest. With the game so far out of reach, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau pulled his starters early. Hart came out of the game just four minutes into the third quarter having played just shy of 24 minutes.