The New York Knicks are still celebrating a championship, but the new season is coming up quickly. Winning changes things. It also makes keeping a team together a lot more complicated.
Knicks Have a Big Josh Hart Decision Coming FastThe Knicks have already watched several members of their championship rotation leave this offseason, and more major decisions are waiting around the corner. Karl-Anthony Towns‘ future will have to be addressed. Mikal Bridges is in line for a payday. OG Anunoby and Jalen Brunson are also part of the bigger picture.
Then, of course, there’s Josh Hart. His situation might not generate quite as many headlines as some of the Knicks’ other contract questions, but it’s an important one. He is eligible for an extension, and New York will have to decide how much it’s willing to spend to keep one of the most versatile players from its championship core.
The good news? Hart doesn’t sound like someone who’s looking for the exit.
Josh Hart Isn’t Hiding What He WantsFor all the uncertainty that can come with contract negotiations, Hart has been fairly direct about where he’d like to end up. Speaking with Yahoo Sports’ Caroline Fenton on Tuesday, the Knicks veteran said he “absolutely” wants to remain with the organization long term. He even sees the possibility of ending his career in New York.
“I’ve always said New York is a home to me, and they’ve given me some of my best years of my career. It’s definitely a place I want to stay at,” Hart said in the interview. That’s music to the ears of Knicks fans.
Hart arrived in New York in February 2023 and has become one of the players most closely associated with this version of the team. He’s brought plenty of personality to the group, but what he does when the game starts is what makes his future so important.
Hart has become the kind of player who can be used in different ways depending on what the Knicks need. He’s been a major part of this core and played an important role in the team’s 2026 championship run.
Letting a player like that walk would create a hole that isn’t necessarily easy to fill. But wanting Hart back and being able to give him everything he could ask for are two different things.
New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) leaps to pass as San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet (7) and Spurs guard De’aaron Fox (4) defend during game five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Photo Credit: Geoff Burke, Imagn Images via Reuters ConnectThe Knicks May Need Hart to Make a SacrificeHart is currently eligible for a contract worth up to $132 million over four years. That’s a huge number, and the Knicks aren’t making this decision in a vacuum. There are other players who need contracts, other salaries already on the books, and the restrictions created by the NBA’s new CBA. Put it all together, and it becomes difficult to imagine New York handing Hart the full amount he’s eligible to receive.
That doesn’t mean the two sides can’t find a way to make it work. James L. Edwards III of The Athletic believes the right number could end up somewhere between $60 million and $62 million in total salary. In his view, that range could be the “sweet spot” for keeping Hart in New York.
It’s still a significant amount of money, obviously. But it would also require Hart to leave a good amount on the table. The proposed range is well below the maximum extension he’s eligible for and roughly $20 million less than what he’s currently making.
Would he take less? The Knicks have already seen players put the team’s future ahead of their own potential earnings. Brunson forfeited $113 million in 2024, while Landry Shamet chose to take less than market value to return this offseason.
That doesn’t automatically mean Hart will make the same choice. Every player’s situation is different, and he has every right to consider what makes the most sense for him. Still, his comments make one think he’d do it.
Hart has already said New York feels like home. He’s said he wants to stay. After helping the Knicks reach the top of the NBA peak, perhaps that’s the biggest reason for optimism that a deal, a good one, gets done.
The Knicks have a lot on their plate, and Hart isn’t the only player who’ll need attention. But this is a decision they can’t let linger forever, especially with the new NBA season and fresh competition just months away. The Eastern Conference looks tough, too, with LeBron James now with the 76ers.
New York knows what Hart means to this team, and he wants to be here. That’s more than a good start to negotiations.
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Photo Credit: Wendell Cruz, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
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