DALLAS — With OG Anunoby sidelined at the least two weeks with a strained hamstring, Knicks ahead Josh Hart hopes his minutes climb again towards the workload he carried final season.
“I hope [I play more],” Hart mentioned after shootaround earlier than Wednesday’s matchup in opposition to the Mavericks. “Before he went down, I think I was playing the least minutes of my career.”
Hart led the NBA in minutes per recreation final season (37.6), however underneath new head coach Mike Brown he’s shifted from heavy-usage starter to second-unit glue. A preseason bout with again spasms slowed the begin to his season, and he entered Wednesday averaging 25.5 minutes by means of 12 video games.
Brown, although, believes Hart has been distinctive no matter function.
“You definitely want guys to feel good about how they’re being used as part of the group, but in the same breath, Josh has been fantastic,” Brown mentioned. “There’s been two, maybe three [instances] early on that I’ve kicked myself for not throwing him back in the game late.”
Hart’s minutes have already began to climb. He logged 34 minutes in every of the Knicks’ final two video games with out Anunoby and half-hour within the Nov. 11 win over Memphis, when Anunoby performed solely 18.
Hart admits he retains observe of his minutes — however solely when feelings run excessive.
“When I’m mad, yeah,” Hart mentioned. “But I’m ready to have to always do what needs to be done to help the team get wins.”
Brown mentioned buy-in on taking part in time will probably be important on a veteran roster with championship aspirations. As an example Hart’s worth, he in contrast him to a well-recognized Swiss Military knife from his Golden State days.
“They’re not the same player, but he’s such a glue piece like Andre Iguodala was in Golden State,” Brown mentioned. “He just ties everything and anybody together. He does so many things out there that are just really simple that makes the game easier for everybody… And he can definitely do that for us and probably play more minutes, but at the end of the day, we have a good team, and I’m gonna try to spread [the minutes] around as best I can.”
After a breakout underneath Tom Thibodeau final season, Hart’s manufacturing has naturally leveled off in Brown’s new system. He’s averaging 9.2 factors and 6.5 rebounds — each his lowest since early Pelicans days — whereas Brown has began Mitchell Robinson and, in Anunoby’s absence, Landry Shamet as an alternative of elevating Hart.
“For players it takes a while to get used to a system, and with coaches it takes a while to get used to players,” Hart mentioned.
82-GAME GRIND
Hart believes the NBA schedule is simply too demanding — however understands why nothing modifications.
“Do I think there’s too many games? Yeah,” he mentioned. “Conversely, will governors and league and players take a pay cut to not do that? I don’t know.”
His feedback got here in response to Steve Kerr’s current criticism that the NBA’s tempo is driving an uptick in soft-tissue accidents throughout the league. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Davis and Ja Morant all headline that listing. For the Knicks, Anunoby’s hamstring pressure suits the identical sample.
Hart agreed Kerr is “probably” proper.
“The guys are faster, they’re stronger, they’re more athletic. And with that being said, you have to allow more time than normal of rest and recovery,” he mentioned. “But for me, I never really worry too much about the injury side of it. I pray before every game, and if something does happen, it’s part of my testimony.”
Brown additionally agreed with Kerr’s stance, although he doesn’t assume taking part in video games each different day is the suitable cadence.
“I think if we did play less games, it would help because the game is faster and you’re putting a lot of pressure on everyone’s bodies playing three [games] in four nights or 14-15 back-to-backs throughout the course of a year,” he mentioned. “So should you had just a few extra days in-between to get well, from a novice talking, I feel it might be higher, however that’s simply my two cents.
“Not every other day. That’s still a lot. But to space it out just a little bit more, have less back-to-backs so guys have a real opportunity to recover, I think could be beneficial just because of how fast the game is.”
As for whether or not at the moment’s recreation is simply too quick?
“I don’t know, man,” Hart mentioned. “I’m going to let the analytic geeks figure that one out.”
DEBT UNPAID
Brown mentioned Kerr nonetheless owes him cash from a recreation of two-on-two, the place he and former Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer performed in opposition to Kerr and former Atlanta Hawks GM Danny Ferry.
“We played two-on-two with [Kerr and] Danny Ferry, and we busted their a–, and Steve still owes me $100 from that match,” mentioned Brown. “I think Danny paid up, which is surprising, but Steve didn’t. Steve’s smarter than me, but he’s not better. I know he played 15 years in the NBA and all that s—, but he’s not better than Mike Budenholzer and myself.”
BRUNSON’S RETURN
Hart expects Jalen Brunson to really feel feelings returning to the constructing the place he started his NBA profession.
“I don’t know, you’ll have to ask him,” Hart mentioned. “Obviously he had some good years here. Obviously, he got a lot of love for Dallas, so whenever you come to a place like that, it’s always a good feeling.”
Drafted thirty third in 2018, Brunson blossomed in Dallas earlier than departing for New York as a free agent in 2022. Since then, he’s returned twice — scoring 30 and 37 factors — however the Knicks misplaced each. They’re 0-3 in opposition to the Mavericks in video games he’s performed.
“I’m sure he’s had a lot of great memories here and some not so great,” Brown mentioned. “That’s everybody that’s been in different spots in the league.”
