JOSH Hart

The biggest story around Hart off the court is his contract. On October 10, Hart reacted to the Knicks' decision to table extension talks, per a report. That followed a September 5 roundup of Eastern Conference notes that listed Knicks extension candidates, and a September 30 Knicks notebook that grouped Hart with McBride, Randle, Rondo and Towns. None of that is a done deal in either direction. The front office has not extended him, and it has not moved him. What is known is that talks are paused, and Hart has spoken about it. For fans tracking the roster beyond this season, this is the thread to follow. For now, he is a Knick wearing number 3 and playing his usual role.

Last season, in 2025-26, Hart played 66 games and averaged 30.2 minutes. He put up 12.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game, with 1.1 steals, 0.3 blocks and 1.9 turnovers. The shooting was the headline. He hit 50.8 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from three, and his true shooting percentage was 61.2. His free throw percentage was 72.0. His usage rate sat at 16.3 percent, which means he did all of that without needing the ball much. His plus-minus was 3.2. Those are last season's numbers, not this season's, but they show the profile the Knicks are counting on: a 6-5, 215-pound guard who rebounds like a forward, moves the ball and does not waste possessions.

Hart's last five games of last season came against San Antonio in June. The Knicks won four of them. He opened the series on June 3 with 3 points, 15 rebounds and 6 assists in 26.8 minutes and a plus-22.0. On June 5 he had 0 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists in 18.2 minutes. The Knicks dropped the June 8 game despite Hart's 16 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists in 34.9 minutes. He answered with 6 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists on June 10, then 13 points, 11 rebounds and 2 assists in 39.2 minutes on June 13, a plus-15.0 in a win. The scoring came and went. The rebounding and the plus-minus did not. That is the Hart the Knicks want again this season.

The early part of this season has been bumpier. On October 5 against Philadelphia, Hart had 2 points, 1 rebound and 0 assists in 13.5 minutes, and the Knicks lost. On October 8 against Washington he went for 13 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists in 20.9 minutes, another loss. On October 12 against Minnesota he had 2 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists in 21.7 minutes at a minus-6.0, and the Knicks lost again. Then came the rest day and the ankle. He sat out the win over Toronto on October 15. The October 20 game against Philadelphia was his first full-minute outing of the month. Four of the five games he played in October ended in losses. The minutes in the first three were lower than his 30.2 average from last season. Tuesday's 30.3 minutes suggest that is changing.

Hart is a 31-year-old guard out of Villanova with nine seasons of experience. He stands 6-5 and weighs 215 pounds. He wears number 3 for the Knicks and played for New York last season too. His game has never been about scoring volume. Last season's 16.3 usage rate says that plainly. His value shows up in the rebound column, where 7.4 a night is unusual for a guard, and in the efficiency, where 50.8 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from three made him a reliable finisher when the ball found him. He also turned it over just 1.9 times per game while handing out 4.8 assists. With the extension talks tabled, this season is a chance for both sides to see where that profile fits long term.