Josh Hart is no longer on a minutes restriction for the Knicks, reports James L. Edwards III of The Athletic (Twitter link). Hart missed a majority of the preseason with back spasms and is also dealing with a finger injury that he expects to manage all season, but he was able to make his 2025/26 debut on Friday’s win against the Celtics.
Hart only scored three points on 1-for-8 shooting, but he collected 14 rebounds and dished out three assists with zero turnovers in just under 19 minutes. One person particularly impressed with the performance was head coach Mike Brown, writes Madeline Kenney for the New York Post.
“Josh, man, monster, monster, monster.” Brown said. “Not only did he guard everybody, he had six offensive rebounds, eight defensive. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen this before — 14 rebounds in 19 minutes — just a phenomenal, phenomenal game doing the dirty stuff by Josh.”
Hart called the outing a “solid first day here at the office” and noted that he’s still working on getting his conditioning back after missing much of the ramp-up to the season.
We have more on the Knicks:
- Miles McBride is not with the Knicks on Sunday as they head to Miami, reports Stefan Bondy of the New York Post (via Twitter). McBride will miss the matchup due to personal reasons, and it’s unclear if he’ll join the team for the rest of its three-game road trip. He started the previous game in the absence of Mitchell Robinson, who is still out due to load management, and scored 10 points with four assists and four rebounds.
- After leaving Friday’s game early, OG Anunoby says that he’s fine, and that he was dealing with cramping and not the ankle injury he fought through during preseason, writes Petter Botte of the New York Post. Botte notes that Anunoby went through practice on Friday, and SNY’s Ian Begley reports (via Twitter) that, according to Brown, Anunoby could’ve gone back into the game if he was needed.
- After Malcolm Brogdon‘s surprise retirement, second-year guard Tyler Kolek has stepped into a larger role and is making the most of it, Botte writes. It hasn’t all been smooth sailing, but Brown likes what he’s seeing from the young point guard. “He had a really good game defensively [Friday] night for the most part,” Brown said. “During the first stretch, he was really good offensively. In the second half, he wasn’t as good, but he’s a young guy, and, he’s gonna learn and grow from any minutes that he gets, and that’s what I like about him, because you know he’s young, he’s smart, but more importantly, he’s tough-minded, so he can take any type of coaching or any adversity that he goes through at any time and he’ll bounce back the right way.” Kolek points to his time on the bench with Cameron Payne last season as a key to growing his understanding of the game, as the two would analyze the play of Jalen Brunson and others together.
“ McBride started the previous game in the absence of Mitchell Robinson, who is still out due to load management, and scored 10 points with four assists and four rebounds.”
Sports Writers in NY and the media in general. Don’t write the news. They try and find narratives to exploit and sell. Cause drama and friction is more lucrative and entertaining. And sells more by extending the life of the narrative.
The Knicks starting 5 last year was Brunson PG, Bridges SG, OG PF, Hart SF, Towns C. They won the third most games in East (51). An East Finals starting 5. A starting 5 with two starting all star players. A starting team with two DPOY candidates.
So why is it that somehow now Mitch will be starting. A player by their own words. Is injury prone. Has to be game managed. Brown has never announced Mitch as the starting center. And all this talk about pace and new offense. Only makes me wonder why Mitch. A guy who can’t shoot. A guy who you don’t want to tire out by faster pace. A guy who is not a good passer. Yet somehow he is the choice to start. Even though the coach has NEVER proclaimed it.
This NEW Brown offense. Would fit last years starting 5 much better. I can see the new offense helping them. They are more built for it. And isn’t that why you use the players you use. Now I have never been a fan of twin towers with KAT. Cause if you are paying him top money. Then you want the most production out of him. And thats not at the 4 thats at the 5. Just look at his career. And answer it yourself.
If you invest in KAT. Then you protect his weaknesses. First I want to say he played his best D ever last yr. Still not good enough for NY. So the way you manage that. Is by adding a defensive big 4. Who can play on perimeter too. Thats how you help KAT and protect your investment. Like putting Bridges next to Brunson. Like putting Dyson next to Trae.
I am not a Mitch should start fan. I am a we will trade his expiring contract to help Towns and this team fan. It’s a mistake to start Mitch especially with the new offense. I just hope Brown doesn’t get swept away with the noise. Like Phil did here and others.
Mitch is Towns backup ——- waiting to get traded.
KAT has been a Center since his HS school days in NJ. He played Center at Kentucky. And was drafted as a Center by TWolves 2015.
He played his first Seven yrs at Center posting avgs —34.5 mins, 23.6 pts, 11.2 reb, 3.3 ast for seven years before Ruddy trade.
These are his two yr stats with Rudy at Center.
Towns PF — 33 mins, 21.1pts, 8.1 reb, 3.8 ast.
In the ONE yr as a Knick at center
Towns stats — 35 mins, 24.4 pts, 12.8 reb, 3.1 ast.
So why would you want to mess with this. Towns best position is at Center posting. Fact he can play some 4. Doesn’t make him one. Plus this new offense is more suited with Towns at Center.
Remember when I said Jaquez and Jovic would be a good rade for Kuminga. Those two looked good today. Finally look like tgey are stepping up. Jaquez had a goid game. Knicks missing players. Others have to step up. Powell killed Knicks today. Yabusele still hasnt played well.