Since the day the Knicks traded for Josh Hart, no player has become my favorite Knick faster. Josh Hart is New York. He embodies the same grit, toughness, and blue-collar mentality that made John Starks and Anthony Mason icons in the ’90s, the team that will always be “my Knicks.”
Braids or no braids, nobody has worn the “NEW YORK” crest with more pride over the last three and a half seasons than Hart. Every loose ball, every rebound in traffic, every extra effort play felt like a reminder of what
this city values most. He never just played for the Knicks. He played like playing for New York meant everything.
No one was more excited about the trade deadline deal that brought Hart to New York from Portland in 2023 than his Villanova teammate Jalen Brunson. Those aren’t just words. It’s on video.
When Brunson was still a freshman at Villanova, Hart was a key contributor on the Wildcats’ national championship team alongside Mikal Bridges. Hart averaged 15.5 points per game that season and led all Big East guards in rebounding. More importantly, he helped establish the culture that would define Villanova basketball during that era.
What started as a teammate relationship in college, evolved into a lifelong friendship. Their bond has become the blueprint for what true friendship looks like. Knicks fans have gotten a front-row seat to that relationship through their wildly popular Roommates Show podcast, where the two regularly share stories, crack jokes, and give each other grief the same way they did as college teammates. That same dynamic carries over to the court and the postgame podium, where Hart and Brunson are constantly taking playful shots at one another during press conferences and interviews.
Whether it’s the nonstop ribbing, the public roasting, or the unwavering support they show on and off the court, their connection is genuine. In a league built on transactions and changing rosters, Brunson and Hart’s friendship has remained constant. That bond eventually brought them back together in New York, where they became cornerstones of a Knicks resurgence and helped restore relevance to one of the NBA’s most storied franchises.
The numbers back up what Knicks fans have seen with their own eyes since Hart arrived in New York. Across four seasons in a Knicks uniform, Hart averaged 11.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 49.7 percent from the field. Those marks represent improvements over his career averages of 10.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. As his role grew, so did his production, culminating in a career-best 13.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game during the 2024-25 season while averaging nearly 38 minutes per night.
No statistic better captures Hart’s all-around impact than his triple-doubles. A player once viewed primarily as a hustle guy and role player evolved into one of the most versatile players in franchise history. By the end of his Knicks tenure, Hart ranked third on the franchise’s all-time triple-double list, trailing only Walt “Clyde” Frazier and Michael Ray Richardson. He also etched his name into the record books by setting a new single-season franchise record for triple-doubles, surpassing Frazier’s long-standing mark of eight.
Hart’s growth as a complete offensive player was just as impressive. During his first six NBA seasons before arriving in New York, he never averaged more than 4.1 assists per game. As a Knick, he became a trusted secondary playmaker, averaging 4.8 assists while helping initiate the offense alongside Jalen Brunson. His rebounding reached another level as well. Despite standing just 6-foot-4, Hart pulled down 8.3 rebounds per game as a Knick, a number many forwards and centers would envy. For a player whose game was built on doing whatever his team needed, his evolution into one of the franchise’s most productive and versatile players felt like a natural progression.
His efficiency has improved as well. Hart owns a .563 effective field goal percentage with the Knicks compared to .553 for his career, while posting the highest field goal percentage of his career during his time in New York. The combination of increased production, improved efficiency, and his trademark hustle has transformed Hart from a valuable role player into one of the league’s most unique and impactful glue guys. The box score tells part of the story, but the growth in nearly every major statistical category since arriving in New York shows just how much Hart has flourished in a Knicks uniform.
During the Knicks’ 2026 playoff run, Josh Hart once again proved why he’s one of the league’s ultimate glue guys. The box score only tells part of the story, but it’s still impressive: through 19 playoff games he averaged 10.5 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game while logging heavy minutes and impacting nearly every possession. For a 6-foot-4 wing to average nearly 12 rebounds a night on a deep playoff run is remarkable in itself.
Hart’s rebounding was arguably his biggest contribution. Time after time he cleaned up defensive possessions, grabbed contested boards in traffic, and created extra opportunities with offensive rebounds. His ability to finish possessions allowed the Knicks to survive against bigger frontcourts and helped fuel their transition attack. When games became physical, Hart often looked more like a power forward than a guard.
He also became a secondary playmaker whenever defenses loaded up on Jalen Brunson. Hart averaged 4.6 assists during the postseason and frequently initiated offense, pushed the pace after rebounds, and found shooters or cutters before the defense could get set. That versatility eased the burden on Brunson and gave the Knicks another ball-handler who could make winning plays without needing touches called for him.
Defensively, Hart brought the edge and versatility that defined the Knicks’ playoff identity. He guarded multiple positions, chased wings around screens, and consistently competed on every loose ball. The hustle plays rarely show up in traditional stat lines, but they often swung momentum. Whether it was diving on the floor, taking contact, or extending a possession, Hart delivered the kind of effort that becomes contagious in a playoff environment.
Beyond the numbers, Hart provided toughness and emotional energy. He was one of the team’s emotional leaders, setting a tone with his competitiveness and willingness to do the dirty work. In a postseason that demanded resilience, Hart became the player who connected stars, role players, offense, and defense into one cohesive identity.
For my entire life, when I saw a Knicks No. 3 jersey, the first player who came to mind was John Starks. When we ran the Who Wore It Best? series, Josh Hart hadn’t quite done enough to take that mantle from one of the most beloved players in franchise history.
These days, that’s no longer the case.
Now, and for the rest of time, when I think of No. 3, I’ll think of both Starks and Hart.
What Hart accomplished in New York transcended statistics, accolades, and even championships. He became the embodiment of everything Knicks fans have always cherished: toughness, sacrifice, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to winning. Nothing will ever diminish what John Starks means to this franchise, this city, or its fans. But Hart didn’t need to replace Starks to cement his own place in Knicks history. He built a legacy that stands beside him.
And when it’s all said and done, I believe Josh Hart will have earned the right to see his No. 3 hanging in the Madison Square Garden rafters one day. Right alongside Jalen Brunson’s.
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(P&T will be doing player-by-player article tributes over the next few weeks to commemorate the special team that ended our long, half-century nightmare)
