The New York Knicks have been without one of their top six players for much of the last week.
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Ian Begley of SNY.tv reports that starting New York shooting guard Josh Hart sat out a team practice on Tuesday due to back spasms. New head coach Mike Brown indicated that Hart is considered day-to-day as the preseason grinds on.
Hart sat out New York’s most recent preseason tilt, a 100-95 overtime victory on Thursday against old pals Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo and their new squad, the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Brown started Mitchell Robinson at center in Hart’s absence. The two-time Coach of the Year has been mum about whether he’ll ultimately start Robinson or Hart alongside All-Stars Jalen Brunson and Karl Anthony-Towns and All-Defensive forwards OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges.
Hart was acquired from the Portland Trail Blazers in a Feb. 2023 trade deadline deal. The 6-foot-5 Villanova product promptly became a favorite disciple of then-head coach Tom Thibodeau’s.
An Instant Big Apple Success Story
After helping New York reach the second round of the playoffs that spring, Hart picked up his $13 million player option for the 2023-24 season. Later in the summer of 2023, he inked a four-season, $80.9 million contract extension with the club.
New York has a $22.4 million team option for the last year of Hart’s new deal, 2027-28.
In 2024-25, Hart graduated to a full-time starting role with the team. New York marched to a 51-31 regular season record and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in a quarter-century.
Across 77 healthy bouts, averaging a career-most 37.6 minutes per, Hart logged averages of 13.6 points - while slashing .525/.333/.776 shooting splits - 9.6 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.5 swipes a night.
This year, New York has joined the inner circle of East contenders, leapfrogging the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers - the last two teams to advance to the NBA Finals - thanks to Achilles tendon tears incurred by All-NBA Boston forward Jayson Tatum and All-NBA point guard Tyrese Haliburton.
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