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Josh Hart INACTIVE For Knicks' Visit to Philadelphia

Josh Hart will not make his New York Knicks debut on Friday night Philadelphia.

For their Friday night visit to Wells Fargo Center, the New York Knicks just won't have the Hart.

Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau announced during his pregame comments that the newest New Yorker, Josh Hart, would not play in the tilt against the Philadelphia 76ers (7 p.m. ET, MSG). With the deal that brought Hart to Manhattan official, however, Thibodeau did say that the former Portland Trail Blazer passed his physical.

There perhaps would've been no better place for Hart to begin a new professional basketball journey than Philadelphia, as the 76ers' home once served as his collegiate stomping grounds at Villanova University. There, Hart and Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson embarked on a national championship quest, clinching the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament title in 2016. 

The Knicks (30-26) also officially confirmed the trade originally reported on Wednesday night, one that parted ways with Cam Reddish, Ryan Arcidiacono, and Svi Mykhailiuk (who has already been shipped to Charlotte). Hart joins the Knicks after spending parts of the past two seasons with Portland, notably earning a career-best 19 rebounds in the Trail Blazers' 132-129 win at Madison Square Garden back in November. 

“We are excited to add Josh Hart to our Knicks family,” Knicks President Leon Rose said in a team statement. “He is a versatile two-way player who brings toughness, veteran leadership, and a competitive edge to our roster.”


Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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