While most professional athletes feel a sense of disappointment or frustration at not being named in the starting lineup for a significant game, Josh Hart of the New York Knicks is an exception. His reaction was notably indifferent when he learned he would not start in Game 3 against the Indiana Pacers on a Sunday night.
Between the second and third games of the Eastern Conference finals, rumors surfaced that Knicks’ head coach Tom Thibodeau was considering replacing Hart with center Mitchell Robinson in the starting lineup. This change indeed took place when Game 3 rolled around.
When questioned about the lineup change after the game, Hart, a former Villanova player, seemed completely unaffected. He emphasized that his main concern was the team’s success.
“It wasn’t a tough day,” Hart explained to the media. “It was kind of amusing because everyone was reaching out or texting me, even guys from other teams, and I kept thinking, man, I’m not worried. I don’t mind whether I start or play for 20 minutes. If we win, that’s all that matters.”
Furthermore, Hart disclosed that he was involved in the decision to start Robinson, stating that it didn’t bother him whether it happened or not.
“It was a strategy I’d been considering for some time, something I was always prepared to accept,” he shared, adding that he had suggested such a strategy during the series against Boston as well. “Given our situation and how he performed in the last game, it was a necessary move. And obviously, it was a collective decision that really came down to Thibs and me.”
Watch that below:
Hart’s willingness to prioritize team success over personal glory clearly paid dividends. As his teammate Jalen Brunson pointed out, Hart is not concerned with personal accolades but is focused solely on the team’s victory. The Knicks managed a close 106-100 win, narrowing the series deficit to a single game.
In the game, Hart contributed eight points, ten rebounds, and four assists, while Robinson added six points, six rebounds, and an assist.
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