Josh Hart is now on the extension clock, and the Knicks have a decision to make.
The forward became eligible earlier this month to sign a new deal worth as much as $132 million over four years, a number New York is not expected to approach. Hart is set to make $20.9 million in the 2026-27 season, and the Knicks also hold a team option for 2027-28 that would pay him $22.4 million if exercised.
That doesn’t change the fact that Hart looks like exactly the kind of player the Knicks want to keep around. He’s been called the heart of the team for a reason.
His value goes well beyond the box score, from boxing out and defensive communication to pushing the ball in transition and grinding out extra-effort plays. He’s the type of player fans latch onto quickly, and his physical edge and relentless style fit New York basketball perfectly.
The numbers from 2025-26 only reinforce how complete his game has become. Hart became just the seventh player in NBA history to average more than seven rebounds and four assists per game while shooting better than 50% from the floor and 40% from three.
He also carries real weight inside the locker room, and his connection with Jalen Brunson is part of the picture too. Both sides would like a resolution at some point, and it’s easy to see why Hart would want to spend the rest of his career in New York.
Still, the Knicks have shown they’re willing to balance sentiment with the cap sheet. Leon Rose and the front office have bigger financial realities to juggle, including Brunson’s reduced salary and future raise, Karl-Anthony Towns’ looming extension, and the long-term money already tied up in Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby.
So the issue isn’t whether Hart gets extended. It’s where the two sides can land.
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