Josh Hart doesn’t see a “target” on the Knicks’ back as they prepare to defend their NBA championship next season.
In fact, the veteran guard sees the exact opposite when asked during an appearance on ESPN’s U.S. Open broadcast on Wednesday night if the rest of the NBA would be gunning for the Knicks.
“I don’t think we have a big target,” Hart told Chris Fowler and John McEnroe during Alexander Zverev’s quarterfinal win over Bostic van de Zandschulp. “Because I don’t think anyone is picking us to win again.”
The Knicks, fresh off ending the franchise’s 53-year title drought, have not been the talk of the NBA offseason.
That belonged to their opening night opponent, the 76ers, who signed LeBron James and traded for Celtics star Jaylen Brown.
The Heat added Giannis Antetokounmpo, while the Knicks took a run-it-back approach with the team that beat the Spurs in five games in the NBA Finals.
The only key piece they lost was Mitchell Robinson to Boston. The Spurs and Thunder are the current betting favorites to win it all.
Hart, who will be in attendance for the Ben Shelton-Frances Tiafoe semifinal on Friday night, and the Knicks don’t seem to mind being in the familiar position of being overlooked.
“We’re using it as fuel,” Hart said. “We’re still the hunters. We’re not satisfied with one. The next goal is to get another. We’re the hunters and we like playing that game.”
Hart has become a beloved figure with Knicks fans during his four seasons with the team. Last year he averaged 12 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists.
Flower told Hart that the Knicks with him, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns were likable, team-oriented and easy for a non-New Yorker like him to root for.
“For us, it’s about helping each other,” Hart said. “We’re all high-character guys. We realized if everyone is willing to sacrifice, you don’t have egos, you’re not selfish, you’re gonna get far. You’re gonna get where you want to go at the end of the season.”
