Josh Hart’s game doesn’t always light up the box score in the traditional sense, but if you’ve been watching the Knicks since he arrived in 2023, you know exactly why he’s become a fan favorite at Madison Square Garden. He’s the kind of player New York basketball has always embraced - gritty, relentless, and willing to do the things that don’t show up in highlights but win you games.
When Hart missed the early part of this season recovering from surgery on his ring finger - an injury he picked up in last year’s playoffs - the Knicks felt it. They struggled to find their rhythm, missing that connective tissue he brings on both ends of the floor.
But once he was back? So were the Knicks.
Heading into Tuesday night’s matchup against the Pacers, New York had ripped off nine wins in their last ten games. And Hart? He was right in the thick of it, doing what he does best: making winning plays.
With 4:30 left in the fourth quarter, Hart notched his 17th triple-double as a Knick, a stat that speaks volumes about his all-around impact. That mark moved him past Richie Guerin for third on the franchise’s all-time list - trailing only Knicks legends Walt Frazier (23) and Michael Ray Richardson (18). Not bad company for a guy who came into the league known more for his hustle than his stat lines.
And if anyone should be giving him a shoutout, it’s Jalen Brunson - Hart’s college teammate at Villanova and now his running mate in New York. The chemistry between those two has been a quiet engine behind the Knicks’ surge, and it’s clear they bring out the best in each other.
Hart’s journey to this point has been anything but linear. Coming out of Villanova as a national champion and Big East Player of the Year, he had the résumé of a star.
Josh Hart has just recorded his 17th triple-double as a Knick 🗽
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 11, 2026
He now ranks 3rd all-time in franchise history!
pic.twitter.com/2XIKf65Rvg
But he quickly realized that staying in the NBA meant adapting. He leaned into the dirty work - rebounding, defending, pushing the pace, making the extra pass - and became the kind of player every coach wants and every teammate loves.
Now, with the Knicks, he’s doing more than just filling a role. He’s become a tone-setter, often the guy who dictates the team’s energy and edge. When Hart’s flying around the court, crashing the glass, and making plays, the Knicks usually follow suit.
As of late in overtime against Indiana, Hart had logged 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists - another triple-double, sure, but more importantly, another night where he did a little bit of everything. That’s what makes him so valuable. He doesn’t just play the game - he shapes it.
No flash, no fluff - just winning basketball. That’s Josh Hart. And for these Knicks, that’s exactly what they need.