Josh Hart Balances Knee Pain and Struggling 3-Point Shot

LOS ANGELES, CA — Knicks forward Josh Hart is currently facing a dual challenge: managing persistent knee pain while trying to rectify his faltering 3-point shooting. Hart spoke about his struggles before a recent game, emphasizing that additional practice has been hindered by the discomfort in his knee.

“I think it’s more not being able to put the extra work in like I did earlier in the year. The mechanics are off,” Hart said, reflecting on his recent performance where he shot just 2-for-6 from 3-point range against the Los Angeles Lakers. “Obviously doing those tweaks, that only gets cemented by repetition. If you’re not able to do the repetition, obviously it’s hard to cement that.”

Hart’s struggles with 3-point shooting have been evident for over a month. Entering Thursday’s game, he was shooting a mere 15.7 percent from beyond the arc in his last 13 games, with only one successful shot in seven attempts post February 12. These shooting woes coincided with flare-ups from patellofemoral pain syndrome, commonly known as runner’s knee.

Recently, Hart has also been listed on the injury report for knee effusion, a condition characterized by swelling. “I will take a couple of days off, feel good, go out and shoot for 10 minutes and then it swells up again,” he explained. “It’s just a constant process of playing, resting, getting that inflammation out.”

Despite these issues, Hart has remarkably played in all but two games this season and ranks third in the NBA for total minutes played, trailing only Mikal Bridges and Anthony Edwards. He is enjoying one of the best offensive seasons of his career, averaging 14.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game. However, his dwindling 3-point shooting attempts and efficiency has increased scrutiny from opponents, making it easier for defenses to leave him open on the perimeter.

“If I’m out there, I’m healthy enough. I think I’ve had to sacrifice some of the other work — focusing on the recovery aspect [of my knee],” Hart said, weighing his options. “Right now, it’s that constant battle. I’m trying to figure out the balance between giving myself rest and staying sharp for the game.”

As the playoffs approach, Hart is deliberating over whether to prioritize healing his knee or improving his shooting. “After a game, depending on how it’s feeling, it’s hard to go out there and shoot 100, 200, 300 3s,” he mentioned. “A little bit of confidence becomes a factor, but it also has a negative effect — you’re not that sharp.”

Despite the focus on his shooting, Hart insists his contributions to the team extend beyond points. Currently ranked fifth on the team in shot attempts per game, he sees himself as a facilitator and connector for the team. “You see I go out there and didn’t have 10 points and 10 rebounds, and people say, ‘He didn’t have a good day.’ But you don’t realize everything else, the human aspect of it,” he noted.

Hart concluded, “There are roles where you have to ensure everyone around you is good, and sometimes that means sacrificing some personal stats.”