Josh Hart publicly is trying to change his tune, but he still expects to hear it from fans in Indianapolis during the second round against the Pacers after taking shots at the city — calling it “bottom of the barrel” — earlier this year.
“I love Indiana. Indiana’s a great city,” the do-it-all Knicks wing said sheepishly after Sunday’s practice. “They have a lot of things going for them, like I always said, [such as] Long’s Bakery. Indiana’s a good city.
“I hope not, man, I love Indiana, but do I think I’ll probably get booed? Probably. It’s funny. But for me it’s always like, I don’t mind it. That’s their job. Their job is to boo, to get loud, cheer for their team. So, like I said, as long as I can get some Long’s Bakery donuts I’ll be solid.”
Hart’s comments were vastly different than those he made on his “Roommates Show” podcast alongside Knicks teammate Jalen Brunson in February after Brunson had been to Indiana for All-Star weekend.
“If I don’t have to play the Indiana Pacers, I’m not stepping foot in that state,” Hart said on the show. “I don’t want to be in Indiana for any All-Star break, for anything. I am not an Indiana guy.”
Hart added in the two-month old clip that “the only solid thing in Indiana” are a couple of food spots, such as Long’s Bakery and White Castle, which obviously is a national fast-food chain.
“I love White Castle … And Long’s Bakery. Fire donuts,” Hart said. “If not for those two things, psshh. Long’s Bakery? Donuts are top-tier. Indiana? Bottom of the barrel.”
Follow The Post’s coverage of the Knicks in the NBA playoffs
- Knicks down to final chance after Pacers’ Game 6 rout
- Josh Hart asked out of Game 6 in apparent Knicks injury concern
- Vaccaro: Resilient Knicks will face one more test of wills in pressure-packed Game 7
- Ex-Knicks stars distraught while watching ugly Game 6 loss to Pacers
- Knicks have Game 7 Garden history on their side going into win-or-go-home Pacers matchup
Games 3 and 4 will be at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday and Sunday, respectively, following the first two games at Madison Square Garden beginning Monday night.
The 29-year-old Hart enjoyed an excellent all-around series in the Knicks’ first-round ouster of the Sixers, averaging 16.8 points and 12.3 rebounds in 46.3 minutes per game over six appearances.
He also buried 43.2 percent of his 3-point attempts, highlighted by the go-ahead trey late in Game 6 in Philadelphia.
Knicks guard and former Villanova teammate Donte DiVincenzo laughed Sunday when asked if Hart loves big moments and garnering the spotlight.
“Yeah, that’s just Josh,” DiVincenzo said. “That’s what I love and hate about him, is that’s exactly who he is. And the thing about Josh is you know when that big moment happens, he’s gonna step up and he’s gonna deliver. Because of what comes after that. He lives for it and we all love to enjoy to see him celebrate himself.”