New York Knicks forward Josh Hart said Tuesday he recently aggravated a finger injury and expects to wear a splint this season.
Hart underwent a procedure on his right ring finger in July after sustaining the injury during the playoffs. The Knicks announced the procedure took place on July 16 to correct an injury from New York’s run to the Eastern Conference finals, the first time the team advanced that far in a quarter-century. The team also said Hart would resume basketball activities later in the summer. Hart explained Tuesday that he realized he was still having issues with the finger as he prepared for training camp, which begins Wednesday.
“So probably just rock out with a splint this season and try to fix it again next summer,” Hart said.
- Josh Hart said he recently reaggravated his right ring finger and expects to wear a splint this season.
- Hart averaged 13.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.5 steals last year, setting a franchise record with nine triple-doubles.
- Sportsbooks list Knicks win totals around 52.5 to 53.5, with Hart’s props showing totals such as over/under 12.5 points.
Hart Plans to Play Through the Discomfort
Hart mentioned that he hated wearing anything on his hands but wanted to delay surgery so he could be on the court. “I don’t think about it too much. I just try to go out there and play how I play and if I can’t play how I play and be aggressive and kind of have that toughness mentality that I normally play with, then I’ve got to figure out a different path,” he said. He added that he realized the initial injury was worse than he thought.
When asked if the splint might cause him problems, Hart smiled and said, “I hope not. I’m still trying to figure it out. Me personally, I hate playing with anything on my hand. I don’t feel like I have a good feel for it. It might take a little getting used to, but that’s the best scenario for me right now. … And I’m going to do everything I can to be out there with these guys.”
“But right now the full expectation is just to go out there and hoop this season and help this team be successful,” Hart said.
Career Year, Betting Markets, and Role Questions
Hart is coming off the best season of his career. He averaged 13.6 points and career-highs of 9.6 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.5 steals last season in 77 regular-season games, all starts. He also set a franchise record with nine triple-doubles and led the NBA in minutes per game.
Sportsbooks have listed a variety of markets involving Hart and the Knicks. ScoresAndOdds listed props such as over/under 12.5 points (o12.5 –110, u12.5 –120), along with markets on rebounds, assists, three-pointers, and combined totals. Action Network highlighted a points + rebounds prop of 21.5 in April 2025, noting that Hart had cleared that line in five straight games against Detroit. RotoWire showed him with odds in award markets, such as +8000 for Sixth Man of the Year.
At the team level, OddsShark previewed the Knicks with a season win total in the 52.5 to 53.5 range. Covers showed the Knicks favored by –3.5 in a matchup with Atlanta. DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM each list Knicks spreads, totals, and Finals futures, while Caesars and PointsBet also offer championship and division odds.
Even though Hart had a strong individual campaign, his place in the starting lineup is uncertain entering training camp. New Knicks head coach Mike Brown, who was hired after Tom Thibodeau was fired in June, said he is expanding the rotation to nine or ten players. Four starters are set: Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns. The fifth starter has not been decided, with Hart, Mitchell Robinson, Miles McBride, and Guerschon Yabusele as the options.
“[The starting lineup] will materialize throughout camp,” Brown said Tuesday. “I think it’s too early to say, ‘This is what’s going to happen.’ The front office did a fantastic job putting together a talented and deep roster, and so you have to have a methodical approach when it comes to saying, ‘Hey, these guys are going to start.’”
When Hart was asked if he should stay in the starting lineup, he first joked that he might ask for a trade if he didn’t. Afterwards, he explained, on a more serious note, that although he had the best season of his career last year, he sees that as being in the past. He said he believes he is a starter in the league and feels he has earned that spot, but he also stressed that what matters most is what helps the team.
He then added, “Last year, I talked about sacrifice the whole time and kind of being that separate mentality and being a good steward of my gifts and those kinds of things. So I think it would be extremely selfish for me to go out there and demand to start and all those kinds of things. So, whatever Mike wants to do or doesn’t wanna do, I’m cool with. And time will tell what that is, but I’m gonna figure it out.”
Last season, Hart also volunteered to move to the bench during the playoffs, suggesting to former coach Tom Thibodeau that Mitchell Robinson should start, which pushed Towns from center to power forward.
Knicks Adjust to Life After Thibodeau
Tuesday was the first time Knicks players addressed the media since Thibodeau’s firing in June. Thibodeau had coached the Knicks for five seasons and led them to their first conference final in 25 years. His rotations often relied on seven or eight players, and Knicks starters led the league in minutes.
Several players spoke about him. Brunson said, “I think obviously it’s sad to see a man I’ve known for a long time part ways with this organization, but he’s meant a lot to me. I’ve expressed that to him, publicly and personally. Yeah, he’s meant a lot to my career up to this point.”
Bridges said, “Anybody being in a situation losing their job — I’m a human first always, so feel for someone going through that. It’s always tough. And I always appreciated Thibs here. Great guy, everything. So just always felt for him.”
Hart said, “Obviously, I love Thibs. I’m always gonna have love for Thibs for the things that he helped me with and putting me in a position to get paid. So I always got love for him. Hope he’s doing well right now. But obviously, we have Mike and we’re extremely excited about what he brings to the table offensively and defensively.”
Brown discussed his own rotation style. “If you look at what I’ve done in the past, it’s usually 9 ½ to 10 guys. I try to play as many guys as I can,” he said. “Even when I was in [Sacramento] and we had an injury during the season, there was a point in time when I started a two-way [contract] guy in Keon Ellis. So I’m going to try to play who is going to help us win, and I’m going to try to get guys an opportunity. So hopefully with as deep as our roster is, everybody will get an opportunity at some point in the course of the season.”
