Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson have always had a unique chemistry - part brotherhood, part comedy duo, and 100% competitive fire. That dynamic was on full display during the Knicks’ NBA Cup celebration, when Hart playfully pranked Brunson in front of a national audience. The moment quickly became a viral meme, with Hart admitting he got caught in “4K,” laughing it off like only he can.
But the internet wasn’t the only place buzzing about the moment. Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown and rapper A$AP Ferg were live on Twitch when they came across the clip.
Brown didn’t hold back, jokingly calling it “indecent harassment” and suggesting this wasn’t the first time Hart had pulled that move on Brunson. “If you that confident to do that on the stage,” Brown said, “that s**t’s happened before.”
A$AP Ferg chimed in with a classic New York rebuttal: “Nah, that’s no New York s**t, I tell you that.”
Of course, the Hart-Brunson connection runs deep. The two go back to their Villanova days, where they helped deliver two national championships between 2015 and 2018. That bond carried over to the NBA when Hart landed in New York via a four-team trade in February 2022, reuniting the former Wildcats in a Knicks uniform.
Hart’s always been the more outgoing of the two - the prankster, the locker room energy guy. In fact, back in 2023, Brunson jokingly tweeted that Hart should delete his number after Hart randomly asked about breast milk on social media. That’s just the kind of sense of humor Hart brings to the table - offbeat, unfiltered, and often hilarious.
After the Twitch clip made the rounds, Hart responded on X with a tongue-in-cheek tweet: “IT WAS AI.” Nobody bought it, of course - least of all Jaylen Brown, who doubled down on his belief that this was just one of many pranks in the Hart-Brunson saga.
But while the jokes and memes are flying, it’s important to note that this duo is doing more than just clowning around - they’re helping the Knicks climb the Eastern Conference ladder.
New York entered November with a shaky 2-3 record, and questions were starting to swirl. But since then, the team has found its rhythm, finishing the month at 12-6. And in December, they’ve taken it up another notch, going 8-2 so far, including a statement 124-113 win over Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs in the NBA Cup.
Hart has been a key part of that resurgence. He’s averaging 13.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.7 steals per game - numbers that reflect his all-around impact.
Whether he’s starting or coming off the bench, Hart brings defensive grit, rebounding hustle, and just enough offensive punch to keep defenses honest. He’s the kind of player every contender needs: versatile, unselfish, and unafraid of the moment.
And then there’s Brunson, the engine of the Knicks’ offense. He’s putting up 29.8 points, 7.3 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game, and doing it with a calm, surgical precision.
His clutch shot-making and ability to control the tempo have been critical to the Knicks’ success. When the game tightens up, Brunson’s the guy who wants the ball in his hands - and more often than not, he delivers.
With Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges rounding out the core, the Knicks are finally starting to look like the team many insiders expected them to be: deep, tough, and dangerous.
So while Josh Hart’s prank might have stolen the headlines for a day, the real story is the chemistry, confidence, and competitive edge that he and Brunson are bringing to the Garden. The laughs are great - but the wins are even better.