Josh

Hart

Hart will miss is first game of the season on Thursday. The Knicks swingman has been a key do-it-all player for New York and could be replaced by Miles McBride or Precious Achiuwa as a starter if Mikal Bridges or OG Anunoby assume his small forward spot in the lineup.

Hart popped up as questionable for personal reasons Thursday afternoon. While it’s unclear what those reasons might be, his status for Thursday’s game is also up in the air as it’s hard to gauge what his chances of suiting up are. Hart averages 36 minutes per game, but it’s unclear who would benefit most from his absence. Miles McBride or even Tyler Kolek might see more minutes, but Hart only takes nine shots per game and nobody the Knicks have on the bench will contribute in the other categories the way he does.

Hart has been one of the biggest surprises in fantasy basketball this season, providing top-20 value in 9-cat formats. While there may be skeptics about his ability to continue this trend for the remainder of the season, this may not be unrealistic. Hart isn’t a prolific scorer, but his production in other categories makes him so valuable.

Hart was questionable after tweaking his ankle against the Raptors on Monday. He was no worse for the wear Wednesday as he continued to fill up the stat sheet. Hart had 21 points on just 12 shots and was just two rebounds and four assists away from a triple-double. His shooting has improved this season as he’s provided top-15 value in fantasy. Even if his shot regresses, he can still be very useful to fantasy managers due to his varied skillset.

Hart was questionable with an ankle sprain and then was deemed a game-time decision. Ultimately, he’s available for a big game of NBA Cup action Wednesday against the Hawks.

Hart seemed to tweak his ankle during Monday’s win over the Raptors, limiting him to 32 minutes. Given his track record, fantasy managers should expect to see him on the court Wednesday night.

Hart continues to provide reliable fantasy value, and this season’s versatility has been combined with improved shooting. He’s shooting 59.6% from the field, 37.7% from three, and 87.0% from the foul line, making significant jumps in all three categories. Hart may not maintain top-15 fantasy value for the season as he currently is, but his production is unlikely to fall off a cliff.

Hart finished Tuesday’s win with his second triple-double of the season, and he’s recorded a double-double or better in two of the last three games. He’s fifth in the offensive pecking order among the Knicks starters, but Hart continues to provide excellent fantasy value. While some may be tempted to consider selling high due to his status as a top 20 player in 9-cat formats, category league managers may be better served to hold onto Hart.

Hart has now scored at least 10 points in eight straight. He bounced back nicely as a rebounder after pulling down only 14 total boards across his last three. Hart can stuff the stat sheet with the best of them on any given night, and he’s averaging 13.9 points, 8.5 boards and 5.7 dimes through 19 appearances in 2024-25. The assists and rebounds are career highs, and the points are the second-highest mark of his career.

Hart provided more of the usual to fantasy managers on Saturday, filling the stat sheet with an efficient effort shooting the basketball. He’s been a top-25 player over the last two weeks, which aligns with his season-long value. Given Hart’s importance to the Knicks, he can maintain this production level for the foreseeable future.