"I never really cared" - Josh Hart admits he had a hand in the decision to come off the bench in Game 3 vs. Pacers
With the New York Knicks down 0-2 to the Indiana Pacers, Tom Thibodeau decided to make a major change, starting Mitchell Robinson over Josh Hart to create a big frontcourt alongside Karl-Anthony Towns. His decision worked wonders, with Towns having a huge bounce-back game and delivering 20 fourth-quarter points to lead the Knicks' comeback win.
Despite the victory, there were concerns about Hart getting stripped of his starting role. He struggled in Games 1 and 2, and the fear was that he would struggle further after getting demoted. But the former Villanova standout laughed off that narrative.
Advertisement
"It was never going to be a tough day for me because I had a hand in that decision," said Hart during an interview inside the Knicks' locker room. "When I'm in a decision like that and kind of got the ball rolling on that, it was funny, y'all are scrambling, trying to get answers and all that, I never really cared. Because it was kind of my decision. I was comfortable with it."
They talked about it during the previous series
According to Hart, coming off the bench resulted from his conversation with Thibodeau even before the Eastern Conference Finals. He mentioned talking to Thibs before Game 6 of their second-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics when he volunteered to come off the bench after being outplayed by Luke Kornet.
Advertisement
But with the Knicks down 0-2, Hart said swapping spots with Robinson was the right thing to do, especially after the impact the latter made in Game 2.
"It's funny cuz everyone would say something to me or guys would text me on other teams and all that, and I'm like, 'Bruh, I don't care. I don't care if I start. I don't care if I play 20 minutes. If we win, we win…Whoever won the championship five years ago you have no idea who the starters are. You know that those guys won," added Hart.
Thibs said it did not matter who started
Thibodeau did not say whose decision it was to let Josh come off the bench. However, he argued during the postgame press conference that no matter who was starting or coming off the bench, both Hart and Robinson still ended up playing their usual minutes on the floor.
Advertisement
"It really didn't impact either guy from a minutes standpoint. So, to me, when Mitch was coming off the bench, he's a starter coming off the bench. When Josh comes off the bench, he's a starter coming off the bench," the Knicks head coach said. "Their minutes are gonna be the same. And both guys mix and match. Both guys are comfortable with both units. The thing that I love about Josh is the unselfishness."
The Knicks head to the next game with a chance to tie the series and regain home-court advantage. It will be interesting to see if Thibs continues to start his Twin Towers or if he re-inserts Hart back in the starting lineup. But whatever he decides, the Knicks fans should be relieved that Josh will be fine with it.
Related: "He's holding that bit*h for 17 seconds" - Jeff Teague blames Jalen Brunson for Knicks being down 0-2 vs. Pacers
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
6 minutes ago
- New York Times
Pacers beat Knicks for Eastern Conference title, will face Thunder in 2025 NBA Finals: Live reaction and analysis
The Indiana Pacers, led by 31 points from Pascal Siakam, beat the New York Knicks in Game 6 to close out the Eastern Conference finals at home and advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000. The Knicks kept the game close until the third quarter, when the Pacers' pressure on both ends began to swing the game. Indiana forced 18 New York turnovers, resulting in 34 points, and scored 25 points in transition. Tyrese Haliburton was quiet until the fourth quarter but scored 11 points late, finishing with 21 points and 14 assists. Indiana's role players stepped up as well. Thomas Bryant scored 11 points on 3-5 shooting, including 2-2 from 3, in 12 minutes while Obi Toppin scored 18 points off the bench, shooting 7-11 from the field. The Pacers did an excellent job on Jalen Brunson, holding him to 19 points on 8-18 shooting with five turnovers. Karl-Anthony Towns, battling through a knee injury, finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds. OG Anunoby helped New York hang around, scoring 24 points on 10-18 shooting. Game 1 of the NBA Finals is set for Thursday, June 5th at 8:30 p.m. ET in Oklahoma City. GO FURTHER Pacers head to NBA Finals for first time since 2000, besting Knicks in Game 6
New York Times
6 minutes ago
- New York Times
FINAL: Pacers return to NBA Finals!
Indiana advances to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000, beating New York 125-108 in Game 6 Imagn Images The Indiana Pacers, led by 31 points from Pascal Siakam, beat the New York Knicks in Game 6 to close out the Eastern Conference finals at home and advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000. The Knicks kept the game close until the third quarter, when the Pacers' pressure on both ends began to swing the game. Indiana forced 18 New York turnovers, resulting in 34 points, and scored 25 points in transition. Tyrese Haliburton was quiet until the fourth quarter but scored 11 points late, finishing with 21 points and 14 assists. Indiana's role players stepped up as well. Thomas Bryant scored 11 points on 3-5 shooting, including 2-2 from 3, in 12 minutes while Obi Toppin scored 18 points off the bench, shooting 7-11 from the field. The Pacers did an excellent job on Jalen Brunson, holding him to 19 points on 8-18 shooting with five turnovers. Karl-Anthony Towns, battling through a knee injury, finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds. OG Anunoby helped New York hang around, scoring 24 points on 10-18 shooting. Game 1 of the NBA Finals is set for Thursday, June 5th at 8:30 p.m. ET in Oklahoma City. GO FURTHER Pacers head to NBA Finals for first time since 2000, besting Knicks in Game 6 GO FURTHER 2025 NBA Finals preview: Thunder-Pacers key matchups, X-factors and more Connections: Sports Edition Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Getty Images FINAL - Pacers 125, Knicks 108 For the first time since 2000, the Pacers are back in the NBA Finals! They'll face the Oklahoma City Thunder as each franchise looks for its first NBA championship* Game 1 is Thursday, and we'll have you covered fully until then with all the biggest storylines from the series here at The Athletic . (*The then-Seattle SuperSonics won in 1979, which is not acknowledged by the Thunder.) Q4 0:47 - Pacers 125, Knicks 105 Now Rick Carlisle removes his starters to a standing ovation from Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Getty Images Q4 0:47 - Pacers 125, Knicks 105 One last great Kevin Harlan call on TNT after that Tyrese Haliburton 3: "OHHHH! Haliburton has gone mad!" Getty Images Q4 1:22 - Pacers 122, Knicks 102 I'm just gonna put this out there now while I still can: Pascal Siakam should win Eastern Conference Finals MVP. Getty Images Knicks watching that block by Obi Toppin on OG Anunoby like, "what the heck? you never did that with us" Getty Images Q4 1:52 - Pacers 119, Knicks 99 Tom Thibodeau removes his starters. This game, and this series, is about to be over. Q4 3:40 - Pacers 115, Knicks 97 Obi Toppin thunders down the lane for a dunk against his former team. Tyrese Haliburton is up to 13 assists. Gainbridge Fieldhouse is rocking. The Indiana Pacers are on the verge of the NBA Finals. Andrew Nembhard putting up an all-time playoff line, especially given the assignment on Jalen Brunson: 14 points, 8 assists, ZERO turnovers, six steals, and has made 6-of-12 field goals and 2-of-5 3s. He played (Nemb)hard until the jumper came around. And play he did! With 4:20 left to play, Indiana has outscored the Knicks by 24 points in Nembhard's 34 minutes. Trevor Ruszkowski / Imagn Night, night. Knicks gave up on defense once Pascal Siakam got the offensive rebound, easy swing-swing for the dagger Andrew Nembhard 3. Jalen Brunson has only played 32 minutes and yet somehow looks totally gassed. Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Microcosm of the series right there. Pascal Siakam outhustles the tired Knicks for a loose ball, and New York gives up on the play while allowing Andrew Nembhard to stand alone all day for a wide-open 3. Getty Images Q4 4:20 - Pacers 113, Knicks 94 Tyrese Haliburton is cooking the Knicks with his floater. It's a 16-point Pacers lead — and then Andrew Nembhard hits a 3! That may as well have been the dagger. Barring a Knicks miracle that tops what Indiana did to them in Game 1, the Pacers are heading to the NBA Finals. Getty Images And now Mitchell Robinson comes in for Karl-Anthony Towns. I have a feeling we just saw Towns' last minutes of this season. Getty Images TNT keeps criticizing Karl-Anthony Towns for being too far back on the pick-and-roll but he'd be getting fried no matter what coverage he was in. Trevor Ruszkowski / Imagn Tyrese Haliburton is eating up Karl-Anthony Towns pick-and-roll coverage and taking the Knicks to float school. Karl-Anthony Towns is not moving well. He barely made it back down the floor on Miles McBride's layup, then didn't get back when Obi Toppin surged to the hole on the ensuing fast break. Nine steals from the Pacers backcourt. Andrew Nembhard can't find his jumper but he's painting his Mona Lisa defensively. Ron Hoskins / NBAE via Getty Images Q4 6:38 - Pacers 104, Knicks 88 The Knicks are not winning these crucial minutes. Instead, Andrew Nembhard is absolutely locking up Jalen Brunson. The Pacers have their biggest lead of the game and are on the verge of going to the NBA Finals! Big stretch coming up for Indiana with Pascal Siakam going to the bench and Aaron Nesmith picking up his fifth foul. This is when the Knicks need to strike. Aaron Nesmith just came up limping after fouling Karl-Anthony Towns. He subbed out and was rubbing his left knee on the bench.
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Craig Sager's wife posts touching tribute after NBA on TNT finale
Stacy Sager, the wife of the late broadcasting legend Craig Sager, posted a tribute to her husband while marking the end of an era after the NBA on TNT concluded its run following the Knicks' loss to the Pacers in Game 6 the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday night. Stacy Sager, who married Craig in 2003, posted a picture to Instagram of all the mic flags Craig had collected over the course of his career in a tribute and reminder of the storied career Craig had, which included stints at TBS, TNT and CNN. 3 Beloved NBA Broadcaster Craig Sager, known for his outlandish suits, has died aged 65 after a long fought battle with cancer in 2016. Ronald Martinez The photo featured mic flags from various networks and decades, taking up a giant shelf. 'Fairwell (sic) to an epic era on @nbaontnt @tntsportsus Craig was a sentimental collector of all things sports starting with every 'flag mic' from every event he covered for over 30 years of interviewing legends,' Stacy Sager wrote. 'Thank you to the Turner family for all the memories.' Craig Sager is of course remembered best for his time with the 'NBA on TNT' while wearing his beloved flashy suits during broadcasts. He died in 2016 at the age of 65 after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 2014. 3 Craig Sager accepts the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance onstage during the 2016 ESPYS at Microsoft Theater on July 13, 2016. Getty Images 3 Stacy Sager is pictured. stacy 'Craig was as vital to the NBA as the players and coaches. A true original and an essential voice on Turner Sports' NBA coverage for 26 seasons, Craig chronicled some of the most memorable moments in league history and was a ubiquitous presence with his splashy suits and equally colorful personality,' NBA commissioner Adam Silver said at the time of his death. Basketball fans enjoyed Sager's tribute online, enthusiastically reacting to the post. 'That is so cool – what a great way to remember Craig and his career,' one person wrote on X. 'That is awesome. He is a legend and is missed,' another wrote. 'Craig was the best man,' a third person chimed in.
