Josh Hart

 

Joshua Aaron Hart (born March 6, 1995) is an American professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) and weighing 215 pounds (98 kg), Hart primarily plays as a shooting guard and small forward. 

 

He played college basketball for the Villanova Wildcats, winning a national championship in 2016 and earning consensus First Team All-American honors as a senior in 2017. Hart was selected by the Utah Jazz with the 30th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft and was immediately traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. He holds the Knicks franchise record for most triple-doubles in a single season.

Early Life 

High School Career

 

Hart was born in Silver Spring, Maryland, near Washington, D.C., to parents Moses and Pat Hart. He has an older brother and an older sister. Hart attended Sidwell Friends School in Bethesda, Maryland, where he excelled on the basketball court. As a senior, he averaged 24.3 points, 13.4 rebounds, and 2.8 steals per game, leading his team to a 22-9 record. He was named First Team All-Met by The Washington Post.

 

College Career

 

Hart attended Villanova University and played four seasons for the Wildcats from 2013 to 2017. As a sophomore in 2014-15, he was named Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player. In 2015-16, Hart helped lead Villanova to its second national championship in school history and first since 1985. He scored 23 points in the Final Four victory over Oklahoma and 12 points in the championship game against North Carolina, averaging 15.5 points and 6.8 rebounds for the season while earning Third Team All-American honors.

 

As a senior in 2016-17, Hart had a dominant season, averaging 18.9 points and 6.4 rebounds while shooting over 40% from three-point range for the second time in his college career. He was named First Team All-American by the Associated Press and won the Julius Erving Award as the nation’s top small forward. On March 11, 2017, in the regular season finale against Creighton, Hart scored 29 points in a 74-60 victory. On January 19, 2022, Villanova retired Hart’s number 3 jersey.

 

NBA Career

 

Los Angeles Lakers (2017–2019)

 

Hart was drafted 30th overall by Utah on June 22, 2017, and immediately traded to the Lakers along with Thomas Bryant in exchange for Tony Bradley. In his first career start on December 14, 2017, Hart recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds against Cleveland. He fractured his left hand in practice on February 28, 2018, missing the remainder of the season. Hart played two seasons with the Lakers before being traded.

 

New Orleans Pelicans (2019–2022)

 

On July 6, 2019, Hart was traded to New Orleans as part of the package for Anthony Davis. He played three seasons with the Pelicans, developing his all-around game.

 

Portland Trail Blazers (2022–2023)

 

On February 8, 2022, Hart was traded to Portland in a multi-player deal involving CJ McCollum. On March 12, 2022, he scored a career-high 44 points with eight rebounds and six assists in a 127-118 victory over Washington, shooting 15-of-21 from the field and 6-of-9 from three-point range. On November 7, 2022, Hart hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to defeat Miami 110-107.

 

New York Knicks (2023–present)

 

On February 9, 2023, Hart was traded to the Knicks in a four-team deal. He made his debut two days later with 11 points, seven rebounds, and four assists against Utah. On August 10, 2023, Hart signed a four-year, $81 million extension with New York.

 

Hart has become an integral part of the Knicks’ success, known for his hustle, rebounding ability, and willingness to play heavy minutes under coach Tom Thibodeau. During the 2023-24 playoffs, he became the first Knick to average 42+ minutes per game in a postseason since 2004. On January 30, 2024, Hart recorded his first career triple-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists against Utah.

 

Hart was an integral part of the Knicks success in the NBA Cup during the 2025-26 season. 

Through the season, Hart is averaging 12.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game. He has recorded multiple triple-doubles this season and set a career-high with 20 rebounds on March 8, 2025, against the Clippers. Hart has battled ankle issues throughout the season but remains a crucial component of New York’s success.

 

Personal Life

 

Hart hosts the “Light Harted Podcast,” which features interviews with performers in sports, entertainment, business, and technology. He is a fan of the television show The Office and graduated from Villanova with a degree in Communications.

 

References

 

External Links

* Josh Hart on NBA.com

* Josh Hart on Basketball-Reference.com