By Alex Kirschenbaum
Copyright newsweek
The New York Knicks have been without one of their top six players for much of the last week.
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Ian Begley of SNY.tv reports that starting New York shooting guard Josh Hart sat out a team practice on Tuesday due to back spasms. New head coach Mike Brown indicated that Hart is considered day-to-day as the preseason grinds on.
Josh Hart (back spasms) didn’t practice today, Mike Brown said. Hart is day to day, Brown said— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) October 7, 2025
Hart sat out New York’s most recent preseason tilt, a 100-95 overtime victory on Thursday against old pals Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo and their new squad, the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Brown started Mitchell Robinson at center in Hart’s absence. The two-time Coach of the Year has been mum about whether he’ll ultimately start Robinson or Hart alongside All-Stars Jalen Brunson and Karl Anthony-Towns and All-Defensive forwards OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 29: Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket against the Indiana Pacers during the third quarter in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 29, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Hart was acquired from the Portland Trail Blazers in a Feb. 2023 trade deadline deal. The 6-foot-5 Villanova product promptly became a favorite disciple of then-head coach Tom Thibodeau’s.
An Instant Big Apple Success Story
After helping New York reach the second round of the playoffs that spring, Hart picked up his $13 million player option for the 2023-24 season. Later in the summer of 2023, he inked a four-season, $80.9 million contract extension with the club.
New York has a $22.4 million team option for the last year of Hart’s new deal, 2027-28.
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In 2024-25, Hart graduated to a full-time starting role with the team. New York marched to a 51-31 regular season record and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in a quarter-century.
Across 77 healthy bouts, averaging a career-most 37.6 minutes per, Hart logged averages of 13.6 points — while slashing .525/.333/.776 shooting splits — 9.6 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.5 swipes a night.
This year, New York has joined the inner circle of East contenders, leapfrogging the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers — the last two teams to advance to the NBA Finals — thanks to Achilles tendon tears incurred by All-NBA Boston forward Jayson Tatum and All-NBA point guard Tyrese Haliburton.
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