The Los Angeles Lakers beat the New York Knicks 113–109 in overtime on Thursday night. After the game Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson exchanged autographed jerseys, but during the game things weren't always so cordial between two of the top teams in the league.
Josh Hart made a three-pointer with 3:23 remaining to give the Knicks a four-point lead. To celebrate, he appeared to do finger guns at the Lakers' bench. Then he paused as he skipped past Lakers coach JJ Redick and pointed right at him.
Josh Hart points at JJ Redick after hitting the three 😳👀 pic.twitter.com/996SlVSFs6
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 7, 2025
On the Lakers' next possession, Gabe Vincent hit a three to get the Lakers back within one. After Jalen Brunson and LeBron James exchanged baskets, Vincent hit another three to give the Lakers a three-point lead with 1:21 remaining. The Knicks immediately called a timeout. As both teams gathered on their benches you could see Redick point right back at Hart.
Found the clip, this was right after Gabe’s 3 to take the lead😂😂 You can see JJ pointing at Hart while he walks to the bench pic.twitter.com/jtJbTeFPLz https://t.co/tXVHb3emzm
— ²³𝙻𝚎𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚜🏀☄️🌎💞 (@BronGotGame) March 7, 2025
Seeing a coach and player have this kind of exchange is rare, but Hart isn't most players and Redick isn't most coaches. Plus, they were teammates on the New Orleans Pelicans five years ago. And they're close enough for Hart to rip on Redick's mustache in a public forum.
Josh Hart was asked if it's "weird" to have JJ Redick as the opposing coach when he played with Redick earlier in his career:
"It's not weird. He's ugly as hell with the mustache, though. JJ's a very handsome guy but that mustache doesn't do him any good" 😭 pic.twitter.com/MOEffMXX19
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) February 2, 2025
To make this possibly rivalry even funnier, Hart once lost a three-point shooting contest to Redick's then 8-year old son.
So what happens when Knox, @jj_redick’s 8-year-old son, challenges @joshhart to a 3-point contest? pic.twitter.com/hc6yMhpyyz
— TheYoungManAndTheThree (@OldManAndThree) April 23, 2023
Please do not let anyone who played in the NBA in the 1990's see any of these clips.