The New York Knicks were one of the NBA’s most pleasant surprises this season, as they finished with the fifth-best record in the Eastern Conference and won a playoff series for the first time since 2013.
One of the reasons for their success was wing Josh Hart, whom they acquired in a midseason trade with the Portland Trail Blazers.
It looks like Hart will be staying in the Tri-state area, as he has opted into the final year of his contract, per Shams Charania.
New York Knicks G/F Josh Hart has opted into his $12.9 million contract to return for the 2023-24 season, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2023
Hart quickly emerged as a gem after he was selected with the No. 30 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz.
He is 6-foot-5 but plays like someone who is larger, as he can play effective defense against players at multiple positions and is a good rebounder and timely 3-point shooter.
He has fit in well with the Knicks’ rough-and-tumble style of play, as he is simply a winning player who will give 100 percent and hustle to help his team achieve victory.
In 25 regular season games with New York, Hart averaged 10.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists a game while shooting 58.6 percent overall and 51.9 percent from 3-point range.
Now the challenge for the Knicks is to go from a mere playoff team to one of the Eastern Conference’s elite squads.
They have been rumored to have interest in trading for James Harden, who is currently a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, and it could be a move that would take them to heights they haven’t been to since the days of Patrick Ewing in the 1990s.
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Key Knicks Player Is Reportedly Seeking ‘9 Figures’ On Contract Extension