Josh Hart Takes A Wild Shot At Indianapolis, Explains Why He Won’t Be Attending All-Star Weekend

Josh Hart takes a jab at the Indiana Pacers and their small market city.

5 Min Read

Credit: Fadeaway World

If Josh Hart ever gets traded to the Indiana Pacers, this comment will surely come back to haunt him. Speaking in a podcast with his Knicks teammate Jalen Brunson, Hart took a slight at the city of Indianapolis, this year’s host for NBA All-Star weekend.

“Hell no, I’m not going to Indianapolis,” said Hart. “If I don’t have to play the Indiana Pacers, I’m not stepping foot in that state.”

It might sound like harsh words from Hart, but there’s a reason why the Pacers are so under-emphasized in the NBA media. They rank 30th in the league in fan attendance this season with an average count of 16,356 fans in their games.

Of course, for Hart and other players, the problem isn’t with the fans or even the organization itself. Rather, it has to do with the city and quality of life for the athletes who live there. Indianapolis is a great place for almost anyone to live, but it doesn’t offer the same amenities and attractions as Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, or even a place like San Francisco.

This year, the NBA’s All-Star game is being hosted in Indianapolis, but it seems not even a weekend of festivities is enough to lure players over there. Fortunately for the Pacers, they’ve managed to build a great team despite some of their drawbacks but now they have a new challenge of bringing in another star to help get them closer to a title. No player is likely to join on their own, but through some roster moves and the efforts of Haliburton, they can pull off something special here within the next few years.


Can Tyrese Haliburton Bring A Star To Indiana?

Going from the Kings to the Pacers was a culture shock for Tyrese but he adjusted quickly and has embraced calling Indiana his home. This season, with averages of 21.8 points, 11.7 assists, and 1.0 steals per game, Hali has been thriving in his role and is expanding his game with each passing month.

This season, it hasn’t been enough to make the Pacers a legitimate title threat but they aren’t too far off, especially after the trade for Pascal Siakam. If the Pacers can bring in one more star to be the sidekick for their point guard, it could be the final piece of the puzzle for unlocking their championship potential.

During the All-Star break, Haliburton has already pledged to make a pitch on the Pacers’ behalf, and he’ll have more than enough opportunities, given the sheer number of stars who will be involved. Unfortunately for him, finding that co-star may prove to be difficult just based on how little the top players want to live in Indianapolis.

This weekend will be perhaps the best chance yet for Indianapolis to turn around its reputation. If they can set up an amazing All-Star event and show the stars that they can be an exciting place to play, it might not be long before the Pacers become a hot attraction in the NBA.

For now, though, the city isn’t highly favored among the players and it’s the reason why we see so many of the same teams at the top year after year. If the Pacers can work around this and find a way to win anyway, then it will be even more satisfying when they beat everyone on the way to the top.

“Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We really appreciate your support.” 

Newsletter

Stay up to date with our newsletter on the latest news, trends, ranking lists, and evergreen articles

Follow on Google News

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

Share This Article
Follow:
Nico Martinez is a veteran staff writer for Fadeaway World from Brooklyn, New York. He joined Fadeaway World in 2016 and is currently residing in Columbia, South Carolina. Nico holds a degree in Sports Management from Columbia International University where he built a strong foundation in the inner workings of sports media and management. Nico's contributions have significantly enhanced the credibility and depth of Fadeaway World's content, earning him recognition across the sports journalism community. His work has been discussed in prestigious publications like Sports Illustrated. A dedicated follower of LeBron James, Nico often leads coverage on news related to the basketball star. With nearly a decade of experience in sports journalism, Nico consistently provides comprehensive and timely basketball news, engaging a wide audience of basketball enthusiasts.Nico's most desired player to interview, past or present, is Kevin Durant. He is particularly keen on asking Durant if he has any regrets about his career, especially concerning his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and why he engages so much with fans on social media. 
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *