Every championship-winning team has good role players. They either shoot, defend, rebound, or make plays at a high level without requiring too much of the ball. That’s why Josh Hart isn’t your average role player. Even with his 6’4 frame, Hart can do everything on the court— which also includes playing ridiculous minutes for Tom Thibodeau.
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Last season, in OG Anunoby and Julius Randle’s absence, Josh Hart played as a starter for the Knicks in 42 games. He averaged 11.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.1 steals in 39.3 minutes as a starter. It was a marked improvement from his bench minutes when he was putting up 6.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists.
Hart took his role to another level during the playoffs, where he ranked third overall in rebounding. He was in elite company with Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, and Anthony Davis as the only players to average 10+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 4+ assists.
Hart’s postseason performance made him a fan favorite in New York. With the departure of Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, he will undoubtedly take on more responsibility for the Knicks. But it begs the question— will it be as a spark plug off the bench, or as the team’s starting power forward?
What can Hart bring to the Knicks’ starting lineup?
The Knicks were badly missing their front-court depth during the 2024 Playoffs after Mitchell Robinson picked up an injury against Joel Embiid. Hart played like a man possessed against the Pacers. Not only did he beat Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam to rebounds and loose balls, but he also racked up Wilt Chamberlain-like minutes while doing so.
When Thibs benched the 6’4 forward in the third quarter of Game 3, it was the first time in the series that Hart had been on the bench. His endurance helped the Knicks plug any gaps that they had in their roster as Hart’s Swiss army knife style of play was perfectly suited for an adaptable role.
The Lakers drafted Josh as a guard/wing in 2017, but he has quickly shown his versatility by playing major minutes as a four in the NBA. Despite his undersized frame, Hart ranked in the 80th percentile for defensive rebounding and 92nd percentile for defensive plus-minus last season. He was also a menace in the passing lanes, averaging 1.9 deflections and recovering at least 1 loose ball per game.
But it isn’t just his defensive hustle the Knicks need. DiVincenzo and Randle created a combined 7.7 assists last season. Karl Anthony-Towns, their newest acquisition, just averaged 3. So, there will be a playmaking vacuum in New York next season. Though Mikal Bridges can take on a secondary ball-handling role, the team would still rely on a lot of play creation from Jalen Brunson to make up for the loss of Randle.
This is another area where Hart can contribute. He averaged over 4 assists last season while creating at least 2 points per game via screen assists. The quality of his passes ranked him in the 86th percentile of all players and it’s a trait that will come in handy for the new-look Knicks.
If Hart plugs in at the four, the Knicks will boast an incredibly versatile lineup on both ends. Brunson’s defensive weaknesses will be easier to hide as Anunoby, Bridges, and Hart can all guard every position, allowing them to switch onto most matchups.
Lastly, Hart’s improvement as a shooter will be the final piece to his fit in the starting 5. His career 34.4% from deep, though below average, is still a respectable enough number. While playing extended minutes during the 2024 playoffs, Hart attempted 4.5 threes (his highest average since the 2021-22 season) and converted 37.3% of them.
If he can sustain this shooting touch, the Knicks will unlock a new level of spacing. Having a lineup where all five players can make an impact from outside the arc, will allow Brunson more space to exploit his matchups.
With the 2024-25 season less than three weeks away, Thibodeau’s new lineup will soon be revealed. We’ll continue reporting on the new-look Knicks as they kick off the pre-season on Sunday against the Hornets.
