Josh Hart Addresses His Potential Contract Extension With Knicks

This offseason, it was clear the New York Knicks wanted to bring back their key pieces that helped them win the 2026 NBA Championship in June. The team brought back Jose Alvarado, Landry Shamet and Jordan Clarkson, but now extension talks will happen very soon with some very important starters. 

One extension that New York could be looking at completing soon is for guard Josh Hart. Both parties have yet to reach an agreement, but Hart told the media during Knicks media day that he hopes a deal gets done soon. 

"You always want to get it done, kind of as soon as possible. You don't want that trickling into the season because whenever there's uncertainty, there's going to be a lot of questions," Hart said. 

"We know at the end of the day, it's a business. You have situations like that and you never know what's going to happen, but for me, as long as I wear this jersey, I'm going to play as hard as I can for my guys and the city." 

During the Knicks' playoff run, Josh Hart has been a very important part of their success because of what he has been able to do on both sides of the ball. He is widely regarded as one of the best rebounding guards in the NBA, and in the playoffs, he has had multiple games where he has put up double-digit rebound totals. 

Offensively, he is someone who can space the floor, but also play downhill and drive to the basket. His best scoring game of the postseason came in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Hart scored 26 points and helped New York pull away to win 109-93. 

If the Knicks want to continue that kind of success for the foreseeable future, keeping a player like Josh Hart will be crucial. On the court, he plays with a selfless attitude and looks to get teammates involved on offense. Defensively, he plays with a lot of hustle and has put his body on the line to make key plays. 

Hart has also developed strong chemistry with this current Knicks core. He was teammates with guard Jalen Brunson during their college days at Villanova, and since center Karl-Anthony Towns joined the team, they have also created a tight bond. 

New York's front office has made it clear that they do not want to be in the second apron, which is why it could be difficult to find a suitable deal for Josh Hart. The team could be looking to pay him more of a "team-friendly" deal as they look to upgrade at other spots on the roster. 

Hart may have to wait for his extension, but in terms of his importance going into this season, the Knicks will need him to stay in that same form that helped them win a championship if they're looking to get back to being contenders.