Knicks star Josh Hart makes NBA history with a playoff feat not seen in 53 years

On Friday night, the New York Knicks closed out their semifinal series against the Boston Celtics with a dominant Game 6 win. Several players stood out for the team, including Josh Hart, who reached a milestone not seen in the franchise for decades.

Hart finished with 10 points, 11 assists, and 11 rebounds in 33 minutes on the court. His performance not only helped secure a commanding 119-81 victory and a ticket to the Conference Finals, but also etched his name in Knicks history as just the third player to record a triple-double in a playoff game.

Before him, only two other players had done it: Dick McGuire and Walt Clyde Frazier. McGuire achieved it in 1952, while Frazier accomplished it four times during his 10-year run in New York. The last came in 1972, making Hart the first Knicks player in 53 years to post a triple-double in the postseason.

Friday’s game was just another example of what Josh brings to this team. He was a key factor throughout the series against Boston, averaging 14.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, serving as the perfect complement to the team’s stars, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, on both ends of the court.

His performances didn’t go unnoticed by his team. “That’s who he is. He impacts the game in a lot of different ways,” said head coach Tom Thibodeau about Hart after Game 6, according to the New York Post.

“Sometimes people get stuck on, ‘Well, he didn’t shoot the ball, or he didn’t do this,’” the coach added. “Well, what he is is a basketball player, so it’s transition. It’s the pace. It’s playing out of pocket. It’s making corner 3s. It’s doing all the dribble-handoff, hustle plays, offensive rebounds. And then, defensively being everywhere and coming up with big rebounds. I think when you play with that kind of effort, it’s inspiring to the team.”

Now Hart and the Knicks face a new challenge, one that promises to be just as demanding—if not more—than the previous series against the Detroit Pistons and the Celtics: the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers. Unlike the matchup with Boston, this is a clash between two teams hungry for glory, both riding the momentum of having knocked out opponents that were, on paper, stronger than them.

The Knicks finished the NBA regular season in third place in the standings, with just one more win than the Pacers. That now gives them a key advantage: home court. Game 1 of the series will be played Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.