It’s not a great look on a new head coach when he doesn’t know if a player is going through a potentially serious injury. Before the Knicks played against the Chicago Bulls, Josh Hart revealed he has a nerve injury in his shooting hand. He had played with a splint on his finger earlier, and now he’s playing through it. When asked about it, the new New York head coach, Mike Brown, was apparently caught off guard.

“News to me,” Brown told the reporters. He, however, knows that Hart’s getting the medical attention he needs. “Casey [Smith, Knicks VP sports medicine] is handling it the best he can, and Josh, too. He had 14 & 9, so can’t wait til he’s fully healthy.”

The Knicks beat the Bulls 128-116. Hart had 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists across 25 minutes. A big moment tonight was a layup by him that gave the Knicks a six-point lead. May not be the best Josh Hart numbers but considering his shooting hand is hurt, impressive still. It’s probably what’s keeping Brown optimistic as he said, “When he’s healthy, look out!” 

It might be a while before Hart can confirm he’s truly healthy. There doesn’t seem to be any plans to bench him either.

The wing suffered an injury on his right ring finger back in May, during the Eastern Conference Finals. He went through a successful surgery to repair it. He re-injured it during training camp during a play with Mikal Bridges (who also had an interesting incident on court tonight).

The 30-year-old needs another surgery. This one will sideline him for three months to recover fully. He apparently doesn’t want to do that. Complicating matters is a back injury that sidelined him in the season opener and restricted his jumpshot. He’s currently averaging a brutal 2.8 points and 1.5 turnovers per game on a 21.1 % shooting from the field.

Mike Brown has been Josh Hart’s biggest adjustment

Josh Hart has played with an injured right ring finger since the start of the 2025-26 season. Before the game on Sunday, he confirmed that sensation is going in and out of the middle and pinky fingers. It’s not just in basketball, but also getting in the way of daily activities.

Despite the serious problem it’s posing, Hart has opted to play through the injury. As Brown indicated, he will work with the team’s medical staff to make it work without surgery. “It’ll probably be a process until I get full feeling back,” Hart said on Sunday. “The hand will be what it is. I’m working (on shooting) all the time. That’ll come along. I’m not getting surgery.”

A big part of this ‘work’ is gritting his teeth and playing through the pain. It’s also becoming a defining sign of Mike Brown’s first season in New York.

Hart was a key part of former HC Tom Thibodeau’s rotation. Under Brown, he has been on the bench, mostly due to health issues, and has had his minutes reduced. He admitted that a new coach has been a huge adjustment for him this season.

This comes right after his career-best season last year, where he averaged 13.7 points, a career-high 9.6 rebounds and a career-best 5.9 assists while setting a franchise record in double-doubles.

Far from that guy, Hart has been visibly frustrated this season. He’s spoken about mental struggles amid the physical pain since the Knicks lost to the Pacers in the playoffs.

While Brown’s lack of awareness of Hart’s injury has raised a few eyebrows online, both player and coach have dismissed any assumptions of friction.

“I’m cool with not starting,” Hart said. He indicated that he is adapting to the team’s injuries as well as his own condition. “ if I’m not going to start, I’m totally cool with it. I don’t want to be, like, the next starter up because then everything is varying by game. I want more of a consistent role so that I can affect that role.”

This is the Josh Hart Knicks fans know and love after the stumbling at the start. But now Mike Brown knows his injury is a lot more serious than he let on. How that would affect his minutes in the near future remains to be seen.