The New York Knicks are now 2-3 after their 125-135 loss to the Chicago Bulls, and one outlier has been consistent in each of the three losses — Josh Hart.

Hart struggled once again on Friday night, failing to score across 15 minutes off the bench. He attempted just one shot, finishing with one rebound and one assist, while consistently getting beaten on the defensive end during Chicago’s offensive attack — one that’s fueled the Bulls to a perfect 5-0 start.

One area fans have zeroed in on is the splint on Hart’s right index finger, which he’s been wearing since undergoing offseason surgery. The lingering issue has clearly affected his shooting numbers across the board. Hart himself acknowledged the finger’s impact but made it clear that further surgery isn’t part of his plan.

Josh Hart Addresses Injury

“For me, there probably will be a process until I get full feeling back,” Hart said, per Knicks insider Stefan Bondy. “That hand will be what it is when shooting. I’m working with [Knicks shooting coach Peter Patton] all the time, and that will come along. So yeah, I’m not getting surgery.”

Hart’s initial offseason procedure repaired part of the damage he suffered during the postseason, but not entirely. Now, the 30-year-old forward will be forced to play with the splint for the foreseeable future — something he likely didn’t anticipate.

Knicks fans might be more forgiving of his shooting struggles if Hart compensated with the same hustle and intensity that made him a fan favorite — driving to the rim, crashing the glass, and threading passes through traffic. Instead, it’s been everything but that.

Through four games, Hart is averaging 2.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists on 21.1% shooting from the field and 10% from three.

Those aren’t just lackluster numbers — they’re the kind of production that would have most players riding the bench or worse.

How Can Hart Adjust During the Injury

It’s clear both Hart and Knicks fans are eager to see improvement, but the question is: how much can really be done if his finger is this much of a limitation?

“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 gonna be. I’ve gotta know every position. There’s gonna be times where I’m bringing the ball up, times where I’m the five, and times where I’m the four.”

Since moving to the bench under new head coach Mike Brown, Hart’s playing time has dipped by nearly 15 minutes compared to last season under Tom Thibodeau. Brown’s goal has been to manage workloads more evenly, rather than leaning heavily on his starters.

Hart will have plenty of chances to turn things around, but if this level of inconsistency continues, don’t be surprised if his role shrinks further — or worse, if his name starts surfacing in trade rumors a few months down the line.