In an offense where so many roles are strictly defined, Josh Hart is a needed maverick.
For as much as coach Mike Brown has wanted to transform the Knicks offense into a free-flowing unit with tons of ball movement, it’s largely remained rigid. Jalen Brunson primarily has the ball in his hands, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges primarily stay in the corners waiting for kickout 3-pointers, and Karl-Anthony Towns, though he at times tries to post up in the paint, is primarily outside the perimeter looking for pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop opportunities.
Then there is Hart, whose role is much more fluid. He is the one starter who Brown has said has a bit more freedom in how he operates on the court. Often, it’s that dynamism that brings out the best in his teammates.
“I’m not saying he is Andre Iguodala or his game is like Andre’s, but there are a lot of similarities when you watch him,” Brown said before Tuesday’s win over the Pacers. “You might not be like, ‘Oh my gosh, he’s a great shooter.’ But it’s like, ‘Wow, he’s pretty good in that, he’s pretty good in that, he’s pretty good in that too, he’s pretty good in that.’ He’s really good in a lot of different areas. But more importantly, he does connect the group, and having a guy like that, especially to start games, is huge.
