BY ALEJANDRO LOPEZ
Players and coaches are beginning to report for training camp to begin the NBA season and a key player in the Knicks’ rotation has news that could cause some concern for Knicks fans.
Knicks Swiss army knife Josh Hart told reporters he ‘re-aggravated’ a finger injury he sustained during the playoffs last season, over the summer.
Hart plans to play through the injury this season and undergo a procedure for his finger next summer.
“I’m just trying to get used to it and get through the season with it,” he said. “Obviously, I got a procedure on it and I re-aggravated it somewhat recently, so I’ll probably rock out with a splint this season and try to fix it again next summer.”
Hart enjoyed one of the most successful seasons of his career last season as the Knicks made a run to their first Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years. He averaged 13.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game.
Still, it remains to be seen whether Hart’s contributions will come as a starter or a reserve, which is a situation that Hart decided to make light of on media day. “If I don’t start, I’ll probably ask for a trade,” Hart joked. “I had the best year of my career last year, but that’s in the past. I think I’m a starter in the league. But at the end of the day, it’s about what’s best for the team. Last year, I talked about sacrifice the whole time and being a good steward of my gifts and those kinds of things. It would be extremely selfish for me to go out there and demand to start. Whatever Mike [Brown] wants to do, or doesn’t want to do, I’m cool with.”
Regardless of what his role on the team is, he will continue to be a key factor in the team’s success as they look to be one of the favorites in the Eastern Conference this season.
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