Josh Hart Dons Jersey of Traded Knicks, Villanova Teammate For Arrival vs. 76ers

Josh Hart put on appropriate pregame attire for the New York Knicks' Thursday night arrival in Philadelphia to face the 76ers.

It'll take a long, long time to fully neuter these cats.

Ryan Arcidiacono is gone but clearly not forgotten from the New York Knicks: his former collegiate and professional teammate Josh Hart donned his jersey from Villanova University as his pregame attire for the team's Thursday matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers.

pullin’ up in style 😎 pic.twitter.com/r8S62OL9sD

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 22, 2024

While Arcidiacono played sparingly in Manhattan, he left a lasting impression not only on head coach Tom Thibodeau but the Knicks' fanbase as a whole thanks to his previously established friendships with Hart, Jalen Brunson, and Donte DiVincenzo at nearby Villanova University. The trio played some of their finest college hours at Thursday's site of Wells Fargo Center, which serves as the part-time home of Wildcats basketball. 

The quartet united on a victorious run to the NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship in 2016, one that ended with Arcidiacono dishing off the assist on Kris Jenkins' famous buzzer-beating three-point in the final win over North Carolina.

Arcidiacono spent parts of each of the last three seasons with the Knicks but has been involved in monumental deadline deals in consecutive seasons. In 2023 he was ironically sent to Portland in exchange for Hart's services and this year saw him dealt to Detroit in the deal that acquired Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks.

If the Knicks are truly looking to appease their remaining Wildcats, Arcidiacono is back on the market, as the Pistons released him in a financial move. 

Brunson, DiVincenzo, and Hart have happily made themselves at home again, as the Knicks lead the Sixers 69-46 at halftime of Thursday's game, each first in the post-All-Star-break-slate. Hart had 13 points and seven rebounds over the first 24 while Brunson scored nine and dished out six assists.