Looking at Josh Hart's stats to analyze his impact on New York Knicks' resurgence since his addition to the team
He played with heart, dove for loose balls, defended at a high intensity every night, and instantly became a fan-favorite in the world's most famous arena. In 3 games for the Knicks, recording 26 minutes per game, Josh Hart is averaging 17 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2.7 APG, and 1.7 SPG shooting 62% from the field, 64% from three (on 14 attempts!), and 75% from the line. He’s been a +41 in these 3 games. The three-point shooting will fall back down to Earth, but the hope is that he can shoot at least league-average, around the 36% range. So far, so good.
Reactions To The Trade
The Knick faithful were divided over trading for Josh Hart. The problem wasn't Hart, but rather what went into trading for him. Along with Cam Reddish and two salary fillers (Svi Mykhailiuk and Ryan Arcidiacono), the Knicks packaged in a 2023 protected first-round pick. Opponents argued that the Knicks should have saved their protected first-rounder in a future trade for a star. However, given that the Knicks had 4 first round picks in 2023 before this trade, their chances of playing four rookies were slimmer than ever. Currently the lone 6th seed in the Eastern Conference with depth at the PG, SG, PF, and C positions, the Knicks are better off signing veteran free agents to fill their gaps as they look to go far in the playoffs.
The Knicks Since The Josh Hart Acquisition
Ever since Josh Hart's Knick debut, New York has gone undefeated over their last three games, with a victory against the Utah Jazz and blowout wins against the Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets. Hart's impact on the team is clear—he's closed out each of the last three games. It's an even bigger deal to do it under Tom Thibodeau, a coach whose trust takes time to earn.
"I think there's a lot of guys that score points in this league and they really don't impact winning the way Josh impacts winning. Sometimes they're just tough plays, hustle play ... sprint back, steal the ball back, plays like that give your team a lot of confidence. It's a lot of dirty work, but it's also the glue of your team, it helps you stick together. There's going to be ups and downs during a game, a season, and those types of guys I think are the type that help you build a winning culture. We're thrilled obviously to have him." - Tom Thibodeau on Josh Hart, after his 27 point night against the Brooklyn Nets
Since acquiring Josh Hart, the Knicks have boasted a 128.7 offensive rating, which would rank first in the league during that span and first overall. They've posted an acceptable 113.1 defensive rating, ranking 11th in the league (that number should improve once NYK gets their defensive anchor, Mitchell Robinson, back). This contributes to a +15.6 net rating in the last three games, which would rank first in the league during that span. While three games is a small sample size, it's clear that the Knicks have improved with Josh Hart on the team.
With Tom Thibodeau as the coach and a strong, athletic frontcourt, the Knicks have been a dominant team on the boards. They're currently 2nd in the NBA in OREB% (offensive rebounding percentage) – NYK grabs 32.1% of available offensive rebounds per game. When Josh Hart is on the court, however, that number jumps up to 40.8%, which would be first in the league. It's a testament to his strength and elite rebounding ability for his size – he's 2nd among guards at 8 RPG. For a iso-heavy offense that relies on 2nd chance points as a source of scoring, Josh Hart makes the Knicks better in that department.
Although the team's assist numbers have not been kind with him on the court, he's still adjusting to NYK's scheme. As far as the eye-test shows, Hart brings a connective passing ability that keeps the ball moving until it finds the open man.
What Else Josh Hart Brings
"Whatever the team needs, he's willing to fill that. He's always been that player."
- Jalen Brunson on Josh Hart https://t.co/V0DdY6WiNH
After taking Evan Fournier and Derrick Rose out of the rotation, Tom Thibodeau's 2nd unit lacked offensive consistency. Deuce McBride, SG, showcased his elite perimeter defense but mightily struggled offenisvely. A PF, Obi Toppin's offensive ability relies on him playing off-the-ball. Hartenstein, C, the defensive anchor to the 2nd unit, can only do so much. That leaves Immanuel Quickley, PG, the bench's lifeblood.
Often, RJ Barrett would be the wing who would play stints with both the starters and the bench. In addition to his overall negative play, it's not practical to play him heavy minutes each night due to a depleted bench. Josh Hart adds another scoring option to this unit. Before the trade, the Knicks bench averaged 29.1 PPG (23rd in the league). With Josh Hart, the bench is now averaging 43.3 PPG (1st in the league).
A Tom Thibodeau-led defense doesn't like to gamble – they're dead-last in steals per game despite being a top-10 defense. Josh Hart, who notched 5 steals over his last three, has the potential to make NYK's defense even stronger, leading to more fastbreak opportunities. The Knicks are currently 24th in fastbreak-PPG (11.7). Since becoming a Knick, Josh Hart has averaged a team-high 3.7 fastbreak-PPG.
For a team looking to not only re-enter the playoffs for the first time in two seasons, but also give the opposing team a fight in the first round, their acquisition of Josh Hart goes beyond just trading for a role-player. Hart adds value to the Knicks' weaknesses, while also making them better at their strengths.