Josh Hart was made to be a Knick — now he’s a legend in New York

SAN ANTONIO — Josh Hart Misses Final Celebration

Josh Hart wasn’t around for the last big celebration.

Jalen Brunson, his friend, always finds a way to tease him. He reminds Hart that he wasn’t part of the Villanova squad when Brunson and Mikal Bridges left San Antonio in 2018 after securing their second national championship in three years.

At that time, Hart was just starting with the Lakers during their transition phase post-Kobe and pre-LeBron. He’s been with three different teams in the past five seasons, unfortunately all of which ended without playoff appearances. As a former No. 30 draft pick, he had already proven his worth, but still lagged behind Knicks lottery pick Frank Ntilikina by quite a margin. It seemed he hadn’t found a coach who truly valued his contributions beyond mere statistics or teammates willing to dive for a loose ball.

It looked like he might be another player fading away without making a significant impact. But then, on February 8, 2023, everything changed. Upon hearing news of the trade, Brunson was practically ecstatic, reacting as if he’d just hit the jackpot—“Oh, yes! Yes!”—and he even raised his arms in celebration.

Brunson understood that the Knicks, who hadn’t won a playoff series in a decade at that time, were getting a player whose selflessness would be a perfect match for the franchise and whose grit would align well with the city’s spirit.

Hart had long been searching for a sense of belonging. “The past six and a half years have been quite tumultuous. We’ve had six different head coaches and I’ve played for three teams, so I was really seeking that stability, and I found it in New York,” he mentioned before the Knicks’ win in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. “I think the city has embraced me—my playing style and who I am—so I feel I can really give my best here.”

He went on to say, “This city embodies toughness and hard work, and I feel I fit right into that character as well. When they look at me, they see themselves because that’s how I view myself—I just happen to play basketball.”

New York feels like home now, and hopefully, it will stay that way.

Even though Brunson scored 45 points, he didn’t have much support in what was arguably the most crucial game of his career. Hart stepped up as a key player, finishing with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and two assists, helping the Knicks clinch their first championship in 53 years at the Frostbank Center on Saturday night.

Hart even started the series with remarkable achievements, being the first player to lead both teams in rebounds (15), assists (6), and steals (4) during an NBA Finals game. In Game 4, it seemed like Charles Smith would be recognized as the fan favorite.

If it weren’t for OG Anunoby’s last-second tip-in, the Knicks’ incredible 29-point comeback might have ended in disappointment. Hart’s layup just before the final buzzer could have turned that night into a memorable victory, but the image of that heartbreaking collapse will linger.