Josh Hart isn’t interested in hearing the Knicks get written off before they even get a chance to defend their title.
Fresh off New York’s 2026 NBA championship - the franchise’s first in 53 years - Hart made it clear that the talk around a possible repeat has already found its way to him. And he’s using it as motivation.
“I don’t think we have a big target (on our back) because I don’t think anyone is picking us to win again. So we’re using it as fuel; we’re still the hunters.
We’re not satisfied with one; the next goal is to get another. So we’re the hunters, and we like playing that game,” Hart said during an appearance at the US Open quarterfinal tennis matchup between Alexander Zverev and Botic Van de Zandschulp.
Hart also pointed to the way the Knicks have built their identity, saying the group’s chemistry and selflessness have carried real weight.
“For us, it’s about helping each other. We all are high-character guys, and we realized that if everyone is willing to sacrifice, you don’t have egos, and you’re not selfish, then you’re going to get far. You’re going to get where you want to be at the end of the season,” Hart added.
That confidence comes with a healthy dose of skepticism from outside the building. Plenty of analysts have questioned how difficult New York’s path was to the 2026 title, noting that the Knicks went through the Hawks and the Spurs, then caught the 76ers and Cavaliers after those teams had already survived grueling seven-game series. Critics also point out that New York reached the Finals without facing either of the East’s top two seeds, the Pistons or the Celtics.
Still, Hart isn’t backing down from the idea that this group can do it again.
He’s coming off a strong 2025-26 campaign of his own, averaging 11.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists across 85 games played, including the playoffs. He shot 49.1% from the field and 39.0% from three.
And this summer may ask for another sacrifice from Hart, this time financially. The 31-year-old is eligible for a $132 million contract extension, but reports suggest he could instead take a $54 million deal so the Knicks can keep financial flexibility and preserve their championship core. That would amount to a $78 million sacrifice.
Whether New York can keep that group together while navigating the second apron could go a long way toward shaping its title defense in 2026-27. If the Knicks stay intact, Hart believes they have the pieces to silence the doubters again. If not, the pressure on the front office could change the picture fast.
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Andre Drummond is one of the more interesting pieces in that search, because his minutes can change the shape of the floor in a hurry depending on who is beside him. And beyond the veteran big-man wrinkle, there is also a younger option in Mohamed Diawara who has shown enough in a tiny sample alongside Towns to at least stay on the radar as the Knicks sort through which second-unit look gives them the best chance to raise their ceiling. [Read more 🡒]
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The challenge is straightforward even if the path is not: New York has a crowded wing picture, and every practice rep in training camp and every possession in preseason will carry added weight for Dadiet. For a young player in his spot, the margin for error is thin, and the Knicks will be watching closely to see whether he can force his way into the conversation before the rotation decisions start to harden. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Are Suddenly Counting On Mohamed Diawara More Than Expected
Mohamed Diawara did not come into the summer looking like a central piece of the Knicks regular-season plan, but the way the roster is shaping up has changed that quickly. As the team works toward finalizing its 14th roster spot, Diawaras development has taken on added weight because the Knicks want him to grow into a versatile second-year option who can help in more than one place.
With Andre Drummond now in the mix and wing depth still thin, the need for Diawara to handle both wing duties and some center rotation responsibilities is becoming harder to ignore. For a team trying to keep its lineup flexible while sorting through the rest of the roster, his progress may end up mattering more than expected over the course of the season. [Read more 🡒]