Josh Hart is kind of a weirdo in the NBA, and I mean that in the best way possible. Most guys in this league are obsessed with their "brand" or their counting stats. Hart? He just wants to run until his lungs burn and snag rebounds away from 7-footers. Honestly, watching Josh Hart last 5 games is like a masterclass in "doing the stuff that nobody else wants to do."
The Knicks have been through it lately. Injuries, roster shifts, a new coaching voice in Mike Brown—it's been a lot. But through the chaos, Hart remains the guy who basically holds the floor together with duct tape and sheer willpower. If you look at the raw box scores from mid-January 2026, you might see some inconsistent shooting. But if you’re actually watching the tape? You’re seeing a guy who is the literal heartbeat of New York basketball.
The Stat Sheet Struggle and the Impact Reality
Let's get into the nitty-gritty of the numbers because they’ve been a bit of a roller coaster. In his most recent outing against the Golden State Warriors on January 15, Hart’s shooting was, well, rough. He went 1-for-7. That’s not going to win any Three-Point Contest invites. But he logged 37 minutes and dished out 10 assists. That tells you everything you need to know about how Mike Brown views him. Even when the ball isn't dropping, he’s too valuable to take off the court.
The game before that, a tough loss to Sacramento, saw a much more efficient Hart. He put up 10 points on 57% shooting. It's that back-and-forth that drives fantasy owners crazy but makes Knicks fans love him. You never quite know if he’s going to give you 20 points or 5, but you know he’s going to give you 35+ minutes of maximum effort.
- Jan 15 @ GSW: 5 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists. (The "Point-Hart" game)
- Jan 14 @ SAC: 10 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists. (The "Steady" game)
- Jan 11 @ POR: 18 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists. (The "Aggressive" game)
- Dec 25 vs CLE: 15 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists. (The "Christmas Miracle" before the injury)
- Dec 23 @ MIN: 12 points, 15 rebounds, 8 assists. (The "Classic Hart" near triple-double)
The gap in those dates is the story. Hart missed eight games with a nasty right ankle sprain he picked up on Christmas. The Knicks went 3-5 in that stretch. They looked lost. They looked slow. Basically, they looked like a car trying to run without an alternator.
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Why Josh Hart Last 5 Games Proves He Is Irreplaceable
When Hart came back against Portland on January 11, the vibe immediately changed. He dropped 18 points and looked like he hadn't missed a beat. He was hunting his shot, hitting 3-of-5 from deep. Under Mike Brown, Hart has been encouraged to actually look at the rim more often. His three-point attempts are up significantly this year, hovering around 4.8 per 36 minutes.
It’s working. He’s shooting a career-high 39.8% from behind the arc this season. That’s huge because, for years, the knock on Hart was that teams could just ignore him on the perimeter. Not anymore. If you leave him open now, he’s punishing you.
The Minnesota game on December 23 was perhaps the most "Josh Hart" performance of the bunch. 15 rebounds. For a 6'4" guard, that’s just disrespectful to the bigs on the floor. He was nearly at a triple-double before the ankle injury sidelined him. It’s that versatility—the ability to play the 2, 3, or even a small-ball 4—that makes him the most important chess piece for the Knicks.
The Ankle Issue: Is There Cause for Concern?
Now, here is the part that has everyone in New York holding their breath. As of January 17, 2026, Hart is back on the injury report as "questionable" for the upcoming Suns game with ankle soreness. It’s the same right ankle.
It sucks. He just got back, played three games at a high intensity (averaging over 33 minutes in those starts), and now the soreness is creeping back. The Knicks are already potentially missing Jalen Brunson. If Hart sits too, the offense is going to look stagnant.
"He’s the engine. We go as he goes. When he's not out there, we're just a different team, and not in a good way." — This is the sentiment you hear from teammates and analysts alike.
The reality is that Hart’s playstyle is high-impact. He crashes the boards. He dives for loose balls. He plays "Villanova basketball" at 100 miles per hour. That takes a toll on the joints. The Knicks are currently sitting in a decent spot in the East, but they are a staggering 12-3 when Hart starts and is healthy, compared to a much more mediocre record without him.
Breaking Down the Evolution Under Mike Brown
It’s been interesting to see how the system has shifted from Tom Thibodeau to Mike Brown. Thibs loved Hart for his defense and "dawg" mentality. Brown loves him for those things too, but he’s unlocked a bit more of Hart’s playmaking.
In the Josh Hart last 5 games sample, we're seeing him act as a secondary or even primary initiator. The 10 assists against Golden State weren't a fluke. With the spacing Karl-Anthony Towns provides at the center spot, the lanes are open for Hart to drive and kick.
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- Pace Control: Hart is the primary guy pushing the ball after a defensive rebound.
- Three-Point Volume: He’s finally stopped hesitating on open looks.
- Defensive Versatility: He’s often tasked with guarding the opponent's best perimeter player, regardless of size.
Honestly, the "Swiss Army Knife" label is overused in sports, but for Josh, it actually fits. He’s the guy who does the chores so the stars can shine. But as we've seen lately, when the guy doing the chores is gone, the house gets messy real fast.
What's Next for Hart and the Knicks?
Looking ahead, the priority is clearly the health of that ankle. The Knicks can't afford a long-term absence. If he has to miss a game or two against the Suns or the upcoming West Coast swing to get that soreness under control, they’ll probably take that trade-off.
If you're a betting person or a fantasy manager, keep an eye on the "Points + Rebounds + Assists" (PRA) lines for Hart. Even when his scoring is low, his ability to rack up 5-8 rebounds and 5-7 assists gives him a high floor. He’s averaging 12.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists on the season—numbers that scream "winning player."
The Knicks need to find a way to manage his minutes without losing their identity. Miles McBride and Jordan Clarkson can soak up some of the scoring load, but nobody on the roster can replicate Hart’s "nose for the ball."
To keep an eye on his progress, watch the injury reports 30 minutes before tip-off. If he's a go, expect him to play his usual 35+ minutes, regardless of the soreness. That’s just who he is.
Check the official NBA injury report for the latest status on the Knicks' rotation before the Phoenix game. Monitor the "minutes played" stat in the next three games to see if Mike Brown is actually pulling back on Hart’s workload or if it’s business as usual for the league’s most tireless worker.