There are a lot of people who are responsible for the New York Knicks having as successful of a 2023-24 NBA season as they have to this point. Given all of the injuries they have endured, it is quite an impressive feat they are even in the position which they are.
New York has been without starting center Mitchell Robinson since December 8th because of surgery on his ankle. But, he is set to make his much-anticipated return to the lineup tonight against the Toronto Raptors.
NBA All-Star power forward Julius Randle has not played since January 27th because of a separated shoulder. Forward OG Anunoby missed 18 games with an elbow issue, played in three before having complications and is set to miss his fifth and counting on Wednesday.
It has taken a total team effort and some flexibility from head coach Tom Thibodeau to keep the team afloat. Several players have upped their production big time to replace the production of Robinson, Randle and Anunoby. One of those players has been Josh Hart.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Josh Hart & New York Knicks Updates
New York’s jack-of-all-trades guard has done whatever has been asked of him by Thibodeau. He was originally inserted into the lineup in Anunoby’s place as the small forward, with Precious Achiuwa taking over as the power forward.
Since Anunoby returned and went out again, Hart has remained in the starting five. Most recently, it has been at power forward, with Miles McBride taking Anunoby’s spot in the lineup as Thibodeau has found something going small.
In total, that puts Hart at 25 games started since the injuries started hitting the lineup. Over that 25-game span, he has set some Knicks franchise history with his all-around production, chipping in across the board.
As shared by Tommy Beer, Hart is averaging 12 points, 11.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.3 3-pointers and 1.1 steals while playing 40.9 minutes per game. Per Basketball Reference, he is the first player in Knicks history to average 12/11/5 with 1+ steal over a 25-game span.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Josh Hart & New York Knicks Updates
What Hart has done for the Knicks is truly incredible. He is the ultimate glue guy, a Swiss Army knife kind of player that every successful NBA team has in their rotation. Virtually every night, he provides the team with something different to help get them over the hump.
He has also turned into a nightly triple-double threat. In the first 418 games of his NBA career, Hart didn’t record a single triple-double. In the last 24 games he has recorded six, stuffing the stat sheet every time he steps on the floor.
Arguably the most impressive part about about Hart’s game is how he gets after it defensively. The box score won’t show what he does on that side of the court, but having the ability to start at power forward and then defend point guards later in the game is a talent very few players in the NBA possess.
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