Josh Hart Staying Away from Surgery for Now as He Adjusts to New Role with Knicks
CHICAGO — Josh Hart isn’t getting surgery again. At least not now.
He said it plainly on Friday as he continues to work through the issues involving the surgically repaired finger on his shooting hand. Hart doesn’t want to start over by going under the knife again.
“For me, there probably will be a process until I get full feeling back,” Hart said. “That hand will be what it is when shooting. I’m working with [new Knicks shooting coach Peter Patton] all the time, and that will come along. So yeah, I’m not getting surgery.”
The Timeline and Setbacks
The timeline of Hart’s broken finger has been unfortunate. He suffered the initial injury in May during the playoffs, then played through it — not particularly well — and underwent surgery in the offseason. A setback occurred during practice not long before training camp officially opened.
Now, Hart is left with a splint on his right index finger, discomfort around the hand, and the possibility that it won’t be fixed without another procedure.
The circumstances prompted some logical suggestions that Hart should get surgery as soon as possible to be ready for the important part of the season. However, the recovery from surgery would be months, not weeks, and there is uncertainty about how his hand would respond. Plus, Hart remains confident his shot will be rediscovered through time, not surgery.
Adjusting to a New Role and Challenges
Although Hart’s performance in the first three games was rough—shooting just 22 percent from the field overall and 11 percent on 3-pointers—several factors are at play. He missed almost the entire preseason with a back ailment, is learning to adjust to the finger splint, and, most significantly, his role has changed dramatically under head coach Mike Brown.
“I feel like I’ve got the biggest adjustment out of the whole team,” Hart said. “Just in terms of role, starting, not starting, how the minutes are going to be, and I’ve got to know every position. There’s going to be times where I’m bringing the ball up, there’s going to be times when I’m the five, and there’s going to be times where I’m the four.
“So I literally have to know every play from every different position, and it’s one thing to know it in practice and go through it, but when it’s game pace, that’s the real test. I’m still figuring that stuff out and it’s an adjustment. But this is my seventh coach, so I’ve had a lot of adjusting to do in my career, so it should be solid.”
Indeed, Hart has gone from leading the NBA in minutes under former coach Tom Thibodeau to coming off the bench and playing a role he’s still very much getting accustomed to. In the first three games with Mike Brown, Hart averaged 24.7 minutes—13 fewer than last season—while still trying to impact winning through rebounding but with fewer opportunities to find a playmaking rhythm.
Embracing the Reduced Role
Hart has accepted the reduced role and had conversations with Brown about minutes and other factors. He understands he will have to battle his ego at times.
“I think throughout the season, it’ll be a battle of fighting the egotistical view of it,” Hart said. “I think I did have a good year last year, and now it’s totally different with a different role. The biggest thing I’ve had to sacrifice my whole career.
“I talked about it last year, that’s something I try to do every year—to make sure, whether I need to sacrifice or not, to make the team the best we can be. It’s never seamless. There will be days where I’m like, ‘Man, that’s some bull.’ But it’ll be a constant fight to make sure I know this is what’s best for the team and lock in on that.”
Hart also revealed that he wouldn’t feel comfortable being the first replacement starter, meaning his role could vary from game to game depending on injuries and late decisions, sometimes as close as 30 minutes before tipoff. He would rather stick with being a reserve.
Looking Forward: Regaining Confidence and Consistency
After missing his offseason shooting workouts due to finger surgery, Hart wants to establish consistency. If his shot is falling, especially from beyond the arc, he tends to stay on the court. This has been evident before during his time with the Knicks, whether as a reserve or a starter.
Hart believes he can get back to that level without another procedure.
“For me, I knew it would take a little bit of time,” he said. “Normally, you’ve got the preseason to get the wind under you. I knew it was going to take a minute to get back in shape, get my legs under me, and be confident in some shots. So I figured I’d give myself a week, week and a half of grace before I get too frustrated with myself, but for me, it’s still about getting into a good rhythm.
“New role, I’ve got to know positions one through five. I’ve got to know everything else. It’s a process, and I’ve just got to figure it out.”
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