It is hard to be Josh Hart lately. He initially injured his right ring finger during last season’s playoffs and underwent surgery in July to address it. But then, earlier this week on the media day, Hart said, “This season, the full expectation is just to go out there and hoop, and help this team be successful.” Unluckily, after taking some time off to recover, Hart has again injured himself!

He went full in at the preseason opener game in Abu Dhabi on October 2nd, against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Knicks ended up commanding an 84-99 victory, but all was not well for Josh. With 10:29 left on the clock in the second quarter, Hart took a hard fall. To make matters worse, frustration boiled over, and he ended up being ejected after tossing the ball into the stands.

Now the question is whether he’ll even suit up for the Knicks’ next outing on October 4th, also against the Sixers. It is still too early to know when Josh Hart will be back on the court for the Knicks. According to ESPN’s official website, Josh Hart is set to be re-evaluated on Friday, and the team is taking a cautious approach.

Hart went down in a non-contact fall while pushing the ball upcourt, but things escalated when he remained on the floor near the Sixers’ sideline. Guarded by Kennedy Chandler, Hart shielded the ball and, after the whistle, flung it one-handed into the crowd, an action that sent him into an automatic ejection. He did not return to the game. Despite the fall, Knicks coach Mike Brown didn’t seem overly concerned:

“I just saw him when he was down, and he looked like he was in considerable pain,” Brown said. “But he’s day to day, and we’ll see how he feels tomorrow.” The reassurance coming from the coach himself means there is less trouble ahead. Hart himself kept the mood light, jokingly tweeting a clip from the film Next Friday after the game to capture his “mood.”

ESPN reporter Brian Windhorst confirmed the team’s stance: “The Knicks said that Josh Hart didn’t come back to the game because he was ejected. Not because he had the injury.”  

Hart’s return is vital for New York’s defensive trio 

Josh Hart, KAT, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges are tough, versatile pieces for the Knicks. Hart averaged 13.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per game last season, and his absence will weaken the Knicks’ strategy from now on. This season, the stakes are higher as the Knicks will wish to complete last season’s unfinished business. Karl-Anthony Towns has already integrated well into the team, while scoring 11 points in limited minutes during the preseason opener.

Newly acquired role players are expected to relieve some pressure from the trio, but the perimeter trio remains the backbone of New York’s identity. Any disruption to Hart’s availability, if it is from the finger issue or his back, could affect rotations and defensive cohesion early in games.

In the regular season, the Knicks’ starting lineup played 940 minutes, 226 more than any other lineup in the league, and outscored opponents by 3.3 points per 100 possessions. Also, corner threes are a key weapon: The New York Knicks ranked second in the percentage of attempts coming from the corners, which is at 30%. But only 3.6% of minutes came from rookies or second-year players during the last season. And that’s exactly where Hart’s presence and experience help balance the gap.

Ball movement is another critical factor for the Knicks. In the last five seasons, the Knicks have ranked in the bottom seven in movement, with Jalen Brunson controlling the ball for long stretches. They dropped off from the regular season into the playoffs. They fell to 13th in catch-and-shoot three-point attempts (63%) and 15th in wide-open opportunities (36%).

In all these gains and dips, Hart and the important Knicks pieces have an important role to play. And to repeat or improve the numbers, the Knicks have to wait until Josh Hart returns in his best form. But for how long?