Starting forward Josh Hart said the Knicks have to be on alert in the minutes Pacers All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton is on the bench — because T.J. McConnell can change a game with his style of play.
“It’s not just Tyrese. When Tyrese picks up the pace, he’s an engine unto himself, but when he comes out the came, T.J. McConnell is an annoying little s— that just runs around, causes chaos, picks up 94 feet, someone that plays the game of basketball extremely at a high level, competitive as hell,” Hart said on Sunday. “So we know once Tyrese goes [to the bench], it’s not like we can sit there and relax. You’ve got someone in T.J. who could be a starting point guard for any other team in this league.”
Hart called the six-foot McConnell one of his favorite people in the NBA.
“He’s someone who is doubted, he doesn’t pass the eye test, he’s someone who’s extremely gritty, he’s someone who can go out there and get you 20 [points], nine assists, six rebounds and four steals and pickup 94 feet [on defense],” he said. “We have a lot of comparisons obviously. [I’m] a little taller, more handsome, better taste in wine, probably golf better. And T.J. we’re not doing the wine trade during the playoffs. Normally when I go to his city, he’ll give me a bottle of wine and when he comes here I’ll give him a bottle of wine. But no wine trades please.”
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Hart is walking back the comments on the city of Indianapolis on a recent episode of his “Roommates” podcast with Jalen Brunson.
“If I don’t have to play the Indiana Pacers, I’m not stepping foot in that state,” he said on the February episode, also featuring Nets star Mikal Bridges. “I do not want to be in Indiana for any All-Star break, any anything. I am not an Indiana guy. I don’t even wanna be there [when we play the Pacers]. I am not an Indiana fan.
“Like what Joakim Noah said about [Cleveland]: What’s good about Indiana? I will say they do got a White Castle there. I do love White Castle. It’s the only solid thing about Indiana. And Long’s Donut, the bakery? Fire donuts. Long’s? Heat. Long’s Bakery Donuts top-tier. Indiana? Bottom of the barrel.”
Hart, of course, now has to play at least two games of his second-round playoff series at Indiana’s Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
“I love Indiana. Indiana’s a great city,” he said after practice on Sunday. “They have a lot of things going for them, like I always said: Long’s Bakery. Indiana’s a good city.”
Hart thinks he’ll probably get booed by Pacers fans in this series.
“I hope not, man. I love Indiana. But do I think I’ll probably get booed? Probably,” he said. “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, you know, like I said, as long as I can get some Long’s Bakery donuts I’ll be solid.”
Leave The Vino To Someone Else, Please
Hart, a noted wine enthusiast, said he hopes no wine is being made in Indiana.
“Aye, Indiana has a really good wine store — oh wait, that was Cleveland,” he said. “Indiana, I’m sure they have some good wine stores. I really hope to God there’s not any wine grown in Indiana. No offense to Indiana, but that’s not a very good climate for wine grapes, but before this series starts tomorrow I’ll probably text Teej [T.J. McConnell] and try to get a couple recommendations.”
