Josh Hart 'Essential' to Knicks

New York Knicks forward Josh Hart is a big part of the team's success.
Jan 10, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) reacts during the third quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Jan 10, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) reacts during the third quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
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New York Knicks forward Josh Hart may not be the flashiest player on the team, but he might be the most willing to do the dirty work necessary to win.

That's a role that's almost invaluable, especially for a contender like the Knicks.

ESPN senior writer Tim Bontemps recognizes how important Hart is to the overall collective.

"As a rugged, do-it-all forward shooting 56.8% from the field while also being able to push the pace and handle the ball, he's a great option to be our starting small forward, and he does all of the things that make him such an essential part of Tom Thibodeau's Knicks teams over the past couple of seasons," Bontemps writes.

Hart, 29, has a double-double in eight of nine games in the month of January, including a game against the Chicago Bulls on Jan. 4 that saw him score just two points but grab 16 rebounds and dish out 10 assists.

Hart crashes the boards on both ends of the floor and sets his teammates up for success, even at the cost of taking away some of his own scoring opportunities. It's not as easy as it sounds, and Hart does it arguably as good as anyone in the league.

It's no coincidence that the Knicks began to struggle when Hart was unable to play at 100 percent in the playoffs, and that could very well be what happens this season if the veteran forward doesn't stay healthy.

The Knicks are only halfway done with their season, and they need to be able to have Hart ready for the stretch run and postseason. If they don't, their contender status may be on the line.

The Knicks' next game comes tomorrow against the Philadelphia 76ers. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET inside Wells Fargo Center.

Make sure you bookmark Knicks on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!


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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.