BOSTON — Josh Hart logged extra minutes than any NBA participant this season. His reward? Sore limbs — and the NBA’s new minutes chief trophy.
Was it an honor? A badge of satisfaction for the ironman who averaged 37.6 minutes per sport, main all qualifying gamers?
“Not really. I just thought it was hilarious,” Hart stated at his locker forward of Sport 5 towards the Celtics on Wednesday night time. “I didn’t even know it was an award until [Knicks PR] brought it to me.”
Regardless of being an indispensable piece on a Knicks workforce one win away from its first Japanese Convention Finals berth in 25 years, Hart has by no means been named an All-Star. His school résumé at Villanova is stacked with accolades. However within the professionals?
“I think that might be one of the only individual accolades or trophies I’ll get in my career,” he stated. “So I might cherish that a little bit. Put it front and center in the trophy case.”
Hart doesn’t see the award as validation for the season he had.
“I don’t know,” he stated. “It’s a testament to God’s grace, I’ll say.”
As for whether or not main the league in minutes helped put together him for a grueling playoff run?
“I don’t know. I guess,” Hart stated with a shrug. “Y’all know me, bruh. I just go out there and hoop. That’s it.”
He did, nevertheless, discover pleasure in a single specific element: his identify was engraved on the trophy. Jalen Brunson‘s Clutch Participant of the Yr award was anonymous
“His didn’t [have his name on it]? Yeah, mine did,” Hart stated, cracking a smile. “He’s a forgettable dude. I’m not. Ask about me.”
Brunson, the Knicks’ captain and newly topped Clutch Participant of the Yr, acquired a clean plate on his award. Hart, in the meantime, additionally made Second-Group All-Interview — a nod from NBA media recognizing the most effective participant quotes and accountability all through the season.
“I don’t know. I was second team. Should’ve been first,” he stated. “Not sure why I wasn’t.”
He did supply one concept: possibly the minutes trophy means much more to Tom Thibodeau than it does to him.
“Honestly, I think that’s more important — well, not more important — but it’s the second-biggest trophy in history for Thibs,” Hart stated with fun. “It’s Finals, then it’s: ‘My guy led the league in minutes.’”
Below Thibodeau, Julius Randle ranked No. 1 in minutes per sport throughout the 2020-21 season. The Knicks haven’t had a top-Quarter-hour-per-game participant since — till now.
Hart wears it like a badge of irony. The NBA’s minutes chief, comedic timing absolutely intact.
