Josh Hart’s Scoring Discipline Is the Glue Holding the Knicks Together
When you look at the New York Knicks’ starting five, it’s a lineup stacked with offensive firepower. Jalen Brunson is the engine.
Karl-Anthony Towns can dominate inside and stretch the floor. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges bring two-way versatility.
And then there’s Josh Hart - the guy who might not light up the scoreboard every night, but whose value is woven into the fabric of everything the Knicks do.
Hart isn’t the guy who’s going to demand 15 shots a night. That’s not his role - and he knows it.
But that doesn’t mean he can’t score. In fact, when the Knicks need him to, he’s shown he absolutely can.
Over his last six games, Hart has dropped 19 or more points in four of them. He’s averaging 12.2 points per game on the season, shooting a highly efficient 50.1% from the field and 40.4% from beyond the arc. Those are numbers that speak to a player who picks his spots - and hits when he does.
After New York’s emphatic 111-89 win over the Boston Celtics, Hart opened up about how he developed the kind of scoring discipline that’s become a hallmark of his game.
“I think I acquired it in Portland,” Hart said, reflecting on his brief but impactful stint with the Trail Blazers. “From then on, I got in like, let me work out how I can help these guys, find them in good positions. Games like this, where sometimes that sacrifice is me having to go out there and be super aggressive and keep them honest.”
That stretch in Portland was eye-opening for Hart. In just 13 games, he averaged a career-best 19.9 points per game, shooting 50.3% from the field on 14 attempts per night.
He wasn’t just scoring - he was thriving as a go-to option. But in New York, the script flipped.
Surrounded by stars and high-usage players, Hart had to recalibrate.
“It definitely took a little bit of getting used to,” he admitted. “I think right now, I'm in a good headspace with it.”
That headspace is all about balance. Hart knows when to attack and when to facilitate. He’s averaging 5.0 assists per game - second on the team behind Brunson’s 6.1 - and often serves as a secondary playmaker, initiating offense when the primary options are covered or resting.
What makes Hart so valuable isn’t just the scoring or the passing. It’s the way he reads the game.
He senses when the team needs a jolt of energy, a key rebound, a defensive stop, or a timely bucket. He’s not flashy, but he’s fundamental - and in a league where role players can make or break a playoff run, Hart’s impact is undeniable.
He’s a Villanova product, and that pedigree shows. Toughness, IQ, unselfishness - it’s all there.
And come playoff time, those traits tend to shine the brightest. Hart may not be the Knicks’ top scorer or their most talked-about player, but don’t be surprised if he ends up being one of their most important.
Because every championship team needs a guy who knows exactly when to shoot, when to pass, and when to simply do the dirty work. For the Knicks, that guy is Josh Hart.