MIAMI — Nobody can question Josh Hart’s desire.
On the day his wife gave birth to twin boys, he remained with the Knicks, hoping to help them extend their season.
Hart had been ready Friday afternoon to head back to be with his wife, Shannon, but he was going to miss the birth of his children, so he turned around and played in the Knicks’ 96-92 loss in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Kaseya Arena. He was able to jump on a video call to see his new sons before the game.
“Really happy for him. He’s going to be an unbelievable father,” close friend and college teammate Jalen Brunson said. “Obviously, I don’t know what he’s going through, it’s probably a great feeling. Tonight for him was a win-win situation. We win, we get another chance, we lose [and] he gets to go home and see his two beautiful boys. It’s a really amazing time for him.”
Hart also enjoyed one of his best games of the series, an 11-point, seven-rebound effort after he had struggled in the previous two contests.
Due to foul trouble, he logged just 31 minutes in the Games 4 and 5 combined.
On Friday, he was able to stay on the floor and perform as he had since coming over to the Knicks at the trade deadline.
“He gave us what he could,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “It was one of those things, it happened, he dealt with it as well as you can.”
Hart left the building as soon as the game — and season — was over and headed back home to New York. He did send out a tweet, orange and blue hearts, shortly after the final horn.
This could be his last game as a Knick, although the smart money is on him returning.
Hart is expected to opt out of his $12.9 million player option, but he has expressed hope to remain with the Knicks.
Hart is looking for a permanent home after he has played for four different teams in his first five NBA seasons.
He was a major asset for the Kncks, helping them close out the regular season with a 17-8 mark following his arrival.
“I love the guy,” Thibodeau said. “He is a free agent, so he has a say in it obviously. We’d love to have him back.”
