This cloud hovering over the Knicks was precisely what Josh Hart needed to keep away from.
Now that a lack of a contract extension is his actuality, though, he doesn’t have much alternative other than to settle for it.
“Everything is gonna work out, so I’m not really too stressed over it, [or] put too much into it,” Hart said after observe Saturday. “Obviously, we have high expectations. It’s good to be able to just focus on the season and keep it moving.”
Hart spoke during media day about not wanting his negotiations with the Knicks over a contract extension “trickling into the season,” realizing that uncertainty could at instances “wear people down and it can affect how you go out and handle business on a day-to-day basis.” Ideally, it all would have been dealt with before the season began.
New York Knicks guard Josh Hart practices at Madison Square Garden Training Center in Greenburgh, N.Y., Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. Robert Sabo for NY Post
But the Knicks launched a assertion Friday that they were suspending all contract extension negotiations until later in the season as they navigate proprietor James Dolan’s mandate to keep out of the second apron. Karl-Anthony Towns’ displeasure over the present scenario has gotten the most consideration, but Hart — who is eligible for a four-year, $131.2 million extension — has detailed the potential unfavorable ramifications a lack of readability can have on the team. Miles McBride is also eligible for an extension. All will now have to play with that uncertainty hanging over their heads.
A day after the assertion was launched, Hart acknowledged that it will be something they have to deal with.
“There will be days when you don’t think about it, days where you’re like, ‘Let’s hoop,’ and then other days where it’s top of the mind,” Hart said. “We’re human, sometimes it’s difficult if you don’t know what your future is. Sometimes that’s tough, battling that, some days. But some days, you’re not even worried about it. You just gotta focus on going out there and hooping. Obviously, there’s a humanity side to it. Right now, I’m cool. I’m focused on the season.”
New York Knicks guard Josh Hart speaks at a press convention when the team practiced Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, at the Madison Square Garden Training Center in Greenburgh, N.Y. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Hart is set to make $20.9 million this yr and has a team choice for $22.3 million next yr. Both he and Towns have said they are prepared to make monetary sacrifices to maintain this group collectively, but Hart also beforehand said there was little progress toward discovering a quantity both sides were glad with. Towns was more direct, saying the supply — which The Post’s Stefan Bondy reported was for 4 years and about $200 million (about $77 million less than his max) — wasn’t in a vary that “values” him.
Jalen Brunson is eligible for an extension next yr and is in line for a vital pay elevate. Keeping everyone collectively is a juggling act that has the potential for harm emotions.
“At the end of the day, I’m under contract in New York,” Hart said. “We have a hell of a team that’s gonna try and repeat. I’m in an amazing situation off the court. No, it’s not frustrating. Obviously, you want to get some of those things done, but if it doesn’t, it’s nothing where you lose sleep over it. We’re blessed to be out here playing basketball for a living. It’s not frustrating, we just gotta make sure we continue to block out the noise and whatever rumors that whatever random person says their sources said on Twitter or whatever you want to say, we just gotta block that out and keep it moving.”
Nobody knows Hart higher than Brunson — and nobody knows how Hart will deal with this uncertainty higher than him.
“He’s gonna be a professional,” Brunson said Saturday. “Not just him — everybody. Everyone’s gonna be professional and continue to do their jobs. No matter what the situation is, things are gonna happen. There’s always gonna be a roller coaster every season. Ups and downs emotionally. No matter what, when we’re out there on the court, we’re gonna have each other’s backs.”
And as Knicks captain, not letting this all become a distraction that derails their hopes of repeating as champions will be a new problem for Brunson’s management.
“There’s only potential distractions when you read and believe what people are saying,” Brunson said. “No matter what’s being said, no matter what’s being talked about constantly or not, you believe what you wanna believe, you hear what you wanna hear. It’s on us as teammates and people and professionals to perceive what the nature of it is. People are gonna speak about it. So we gotta management what we can management and do our jobs.
“We’re gonna have each other’s back, regardless. We’re human, as well. There’s gonna be days we have good days, bad days, whatever. I think the way we won was just because of how connected we were as a group, so we gotta keep that.”
That connection is now being examined.
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