Have a Hart? New York Knicks Pacing Josh Hart's Preseason
Josh Hart has a five-year New York marathon ahead.
The 28-year-old Hart had been a nomad since his NBA career began as the final pick of the 2017 draft's first round. Hart already has four teams on his Association gauntlet, beginning with the Los Angeles Lakers (2017-19) before moving on to the New Orleans Pelicans (2019-22) and Portland Trail Blazers (2022-23).
But Hart has finally found a home after six seasons, as the New York Knicks have secured his services for the next five years. One of the newest Knicks after coming over in a trade deadline deal with the Blazers last winter, Hart will play this season on a $12.9 million player option before getting $81 million over the next four years thanks to a new deal.
But the Knicks simply haven't had the Hart over the opening stanzas of that journey: the Villanova alum did not appear in New York's victorious preseason opener on Monday night, said to be sitting for "maintenance."
Load management in the preseason is hardly a headline but it perhaps raised eyebrows when several other major Knicks each made cameos in the win over the Boston Celtics. Hart's close friend and fellow Villanova alum Jalen Brunson, for example, played six minutes but earned 10 points before he left.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau put long-term concerns to rest as the Knicks prepared for Saturday's second preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG2).
Hart was an undeniable spark plug to the Knicks' playoff push
Brad Penner, USA TODAY SPORTS
"We just want to make sure he’s as healthy as possible," Thibodeau said, per Zach Braziller of the New York Post. "Most of the stuff we’re doing with him is more precautionary than anything else.”
For his part, Hart seems fully on board with the plan and seems ready to roll once the games begin to count.
“At the end of the day, you [have] to put the big picture in perspective and the goal,” Hart said, per Denis Gorman of Newsday. “(I'm) not really too worried about it.”
If anyone has earned an extended break or some extra time to recover from the summer, it's probably Hart: away from the negotiating table, Hart worked his way into Team USA's starting lineup at the FIBA Basketball World Cup alongside Brunson. That followed a successful 25-game stretch in New York after the deadline that saw him average 10.2 points and 7.0 rebounds.
The Knicks went 17-8 when Hart was in the lineup, a ledger that allowed them to lock up the fifth seed on the Eastern Conference playoff bracket.
Thibodeau hinted that Hart might be able to play on Saturday, as Gorman's report hinted that he wanted to see how he looked in the final practices entering the weekend. But the head coach mentioned that he was pleased to see Hart get minutes on the World Cup tour, hoping to see it pay off in the form of improved conditioning.
"There’s nothing that can replicate a game ... so, the fact that he did that, in just looking at the conditioning, where he is he’s in good shape, I feel good about that," Thibodeau said. "We just want to make sure he’s as healthy as possible. So most of the stuff that we’re doing with him is more precautionary than anything else.”
Hart could pick up a new role for his first full metropolitan campaign: at 6-5 and 215 lbs., Hart could be one of those in the backup power forward role behind Julius Randle now that Obi Toppin has moved onto Indiana.
The nomadic nature of Hart's early career may have made it difficult to instill a conventional, accepted role for himself in the eyes of the basketball-loving public. But he insists that he's more than comfortable working at the four or any other area the Knicks may need.
I backed up two, three, four; started two, three, four, whatever it was," Hart assured. "I know some people aren’t familiar with that but it’s something I’m comfortable with.”
