New York Knicks guard Josh Hart is crafting a career year on a team with deep playoff aspirations. However, Hart admits to being closer to the end of his career rather than the beginning and is aware that time moves fast, given that he turns 30 next year. He recently spoke with Newsday’s Steve Popper to discuss the ‘back end’ and more.
NY Knicks Guard Talks Championship Value Amid Career Year
NY Knicks Guard Josh Hart Hopes to Play Five More Years
The Knicks had one of their best seasons in decades last year. They went 50-32 and finished second behind the Boston Celtics in the East. They followed that up with a first-round playoff win over the Philadelphia 76ers and a gritty, nose-to-the-grindstone, closely-fought semi-finals loss to the Indiana Pacers. It was an epic run for a franchised starved of playoff success. One player who was a catalyst for their postseason run was Hart, the eight-year veteran. His pension for knocking down clutch three-pointers and hauling in rebounds was a common theme against the Sixers and Pacers. He truly was one of their best players throughout.
In a new season, Hart is having a career year. His field goal percentage (59.6%), rebounds (9.0), assists (5.9), and minutes (37) per game are all career bests, while averaging 14.1 points to go along. Hart is the typical Tom Thibodeau type of player—hard-working, with a high workload, a tough defensive presence, and a willingness to go to the floor for the ball at a moment’s notice. Hart is critical to the Knicks success this year and the next few. Although, even he knows there aren’t many more seasons left to win a championship, a sentiment he shared with Newsday.
“I always told my wife, I’m hanging it up around 34 or 35, maybe with God’s grace get 36 in there. But I’ve got hopefully five years left in the league,” Hart said. “One thing I’ve always wanted was a championship. For me, that’s more important than the statistics. When you win a championship, no one remembers how much you scored. No one remembers what your role is. They care about if you got a ring. And at the end of the day, I’ve got hopefully five years left, maybe six. I’m on the back end. That’s what I’m trying to accomplish.”
Championship Material Resides in Team and Player
The late offseason trade for Karl-Anthony Towns was a high-risk, high-reward move. However, the Knicks were making it abundantly clear they were here to contend for a championship. They boast one of the league’s best starting five’s in Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, KAT, and Hart. And after a slow start to the season, they’ve appeared to turn the ship on the back of three consecutive wins. New York also has a chance to hit the ten-game win mark Saturday afternoon against the Utah Jazz. Brunson has come on hot of late, and Towns is having a solid debut year as a Knick. He’s averaging 26.8 points and shooting 50.0% from three. The hopes and expectations are higher this season due to last season’s success, but this team certainly has the pieces to contend.
As for Hart, he’s the heartbeat and the tone-setter for the Knicks. It’s a perfect match to his hard-nosed personality on the floor. After spending much of his career as a second-unit player, he has played his way into an established starter on Thibodeau’s team. The way he’s playing presently, accompanied by his leadership and hustle-first nature, Hart is right where he belongs. If a championship happens to follow, all the better.
