The New York Knicks are feeling good about their chances going into the new season. But after a loss to the Wizards on Saturday, Knicks swingman Josh Hart Hart hinted at feeling uncertainty about a new role off the bench.
“I’m lost. I have no idea,” Hart said, via The New York Post. “There’s a couple days before we have until Boston. So whether that’s trying to get a rhythm with that starting unit or we give somebody else a look and my role changes and comes off the bench and go with that unit. So just trying to figure out right now I pretty much have no idea. But we’ll see what happens in Boston (in the season opener Tuesday).”
Josh Hart got the start in the final preseason game against the Wizards, joining the Knicks starters for one last trial run. But after scoring just 2 points on 50% shooting, questions are being raised about his place in the rotation.
The former Villanova prospect has never been known for his shooting and it has been known to be a major liability in the past. For a Knicks team that’s already leaning towards defense, they can’t really afford to start a guy on the wing who is no threat from three.
The good news for Hart is that the backcourt rotation is pretty thin right now, with his only competition being Cameron Payne and Miles McBride (who is working his way back from injury). As it stands, Hart is the de-factor fifth man for the New York Knicks but things can always change if head coach Tom Thibodeau feels that the second unit needs a boost.
Hart, 29, was traded to the Knicks back in 2023 in a deal with the Portland Trail Blazers. As a veteran guard who can score, handle the ball, and rebound like a 7-footer, he’s a versatile player on the wing and has found success working in various schemes.
Hart has found a permanent home with the Knicks, and it’s under coach Thibodeau that he’s had some of the most successful stretches of his career so far. In 81 games last season, he averaged 9.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 0.9 steals per game on 43% shooting.
After trading for Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns, the Knicks have title ambitions this year and they believe Jalen Brunson can be the superstar who leads them there. Last year, with Brunson, Randle, and RJ Barrett, the Knicks placed 2nd in the East with a 50-win season and made it to the second round before elinination.
They are going to be playing for something greater this time and the team looks more equipped than ever before to finally win at the highest level and break a decades-long cycle of losing.
Of course, the vibes and culture in the locker room will have to be perfect for it to work and if Josh Hart raises a problem with coming off the bench it could have dire consequences for their championship aspirations. So far, he seems willing to accept whatever role the Knicks give him but things could turn ugly if the Knicks fail to meet expectations early on.
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