Josh Hart and the Knicks insist he is healthy, that he is merely being brought along slowly after playing in the FIBA World Cup last month.
Hart didn’t appear in the team’s preseason opener and is still ramping up.
He did practice Thursday and could suit up for Saturday’s contest against the Timberwolves at the Garden.
“I feel solid,” Hart said. “Working on ramping up and making sure I’m ready when the time comes. … It just was a long summer, obviously for myself first time in the playoffs playing late into the season and wasn’t planning on playing FIBA until the last minute. Body wasn’t used to all of that load in a year. I’m just working my way back.”
Hart said it’s more about monitoring how his body feels.
Coach Tom Thibodeau offered a similar sentiment.
There doesn’t seem to be much concern.
“He did a little bit of practice. We didn’t have a lot of contact today, so he was able to do most of that,” Thibodeau said. “Just looking at the conditioning, where he is, he’s in good shape. So I feel good about that. We just want to make sure he’s as healthy as possible, so most of the stuff we’re doing with him is more precautionary than anything else.”
In the NBA’s recent general manager survey, Jalen Brunson received votes for which current player will make the best head coach one day.
Brunson can see himself teaching the game years down the line.
“Very interesting,” he said when told about the poll.
“I don’t know what level, but I’d heavily consider it once I’m done playing. We’ll see.”
Chris Paul was first, receiving 20 percent of the votes. Brunson was in the “also receiving votes” category.
Miles McBride is unlikely to be part of the rotation at the season’s outset, but Thibodeau remains a fan of the young guard.
“Just stay ready. Talk to him. I watch him every day in practice. I know that everyone gets an opportunity at some point during the season,” Thibodeau said. “The key is to be ready when that opportunity comes. I’m very confident in him because I see how he works. I think he’s gotten a lot better, it’s not only in practice. It’s pre-practice, it’s post-practice, film. It’s everything.”