Knicks Player Perfectly Sums Up Josh Hart With Response to Question About Injury

Tim Capurso | May 18, 2024

Mar 3, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) and center Isaiah Hartenstein / David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Good luck trying to keep New York Knicks forward Josh Hart off the court for Game 7 of the East semifinals against the Indiana Pacers.

Hart, who suffered an abdominal injury during the first quarter of the Knicks' 116-103 loss to the Pacers on Friday night, asked to be subbed out in the third quarter before the team eventually ruled him out with "abdominal soreness" later in the game.

That Hart, who has played an average of 42.6 minutes per game in these playoffs, and at one point, played 12 straight quarters without heading to the bench, asked to be subbed out was a telltale sign that the injury was a serious one.

But when asked about Hart's status for Game 7 during a postgame media session, Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein perfectly summed up his teammate's warrior-like mentality.

Isaiah Hartenstein talks about Josh Hart's status for Sunday:

"He'll do whatever to play. If his leg's not falling off... he'll probably play." pic.twitter.com/E7jK0LWvmc

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 18, 2024

"I mean, just knowing him, I didn't talk to him or know the situation, but just knowing him," Hartenstein said. "He'll do whatever to play. If his leg's not falling off, he'll probably say that he'll probably play."

In other words, come hell or high water, Hart will more than likely be out there for the Knicks' most important game of the season. And until Game 7 tips off at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Hart will have to do what he seemingly detests the most while doing his job: rest and relax.