New York Knicks guard Josh Hart is preparing to make an impact this upcoming season. Sadly, he is currently limited by a splinted right finger from an injury that required surgery last June. Hart is clearly pained by the lack of instinct, but we sense his commitment. His intention appears to be to play out the whole season without seeking any quick corrective action.
Hart’s injury follows a breakout season in which Hart averaged 13.6 points per game during the regular season across 77 games. He matched career-highs in rebounds (9.6), assists (5.9) and steals (1.5). His stellar last season’s performance was instrumental. He was the Knicks long-time starter for most of the season and key contributor to their playoff run.
With training camp around the corner, there is a palpable excitement surrounding the franchise. Will Hart retake his spot in the starting lineup. He believes he deserves that role but acknowledges the team’s decisions will ultimately be guided by head coach Mike Brown.
“I just try to go out there and play how I play, and if I can’t play how I play and be aggressive… then I have to figure out a different path,” Hart stated regarding his approach to playing with the splint.
Playing with a splint poses its challenges, as Hart himself conceded it’s far from perfect. He is getting used to the limit it puts on his game. “I’m still trying to figure it out. As for my personally, very subjective perspective, I hate fidgeting with anything on my hand. I have a hard time getting a sense of it,” he said. He remains committed to making it work, emphasizing, “Right now, the full expectation is to go out there and hoop and help this team be successful.”
Yet, even with this injury, Hart’s competitive spirit is evident. He humorously remarked about his starting position, saying, “Yeah, if I don’t start, I’ll probably ask for a trade, go somewhere else.” This comment says as much about his deep-rooted self-belief, as it does about his will to shine on the biggest stage.
Hart made the decision to avoid surgery right away and work through the injury. He’d like to get on with more short term action on the court, while laying the groundwork for something more permanent next summer. “It’s something that a lot of people have,” he said, referring to dealing with injuries in sports.
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