Josh Hart's streak of eight straight 40-minute games ended when he played 39 minutes in the Knicks game. Despite wanting to reach 20 rebounds, he was pulled out by coach Tom Thibodeau. Thibodeau praised Hart's focus on winning and value to the team.
Josh Hart's minutes played in the last nine Knicks games before Tuesday night: 43 42 43 45 47 40 42 42 44 Hart subbed out after playing 39 minutes against Philly, and he was PUMPED about it 😂 https://t.co/01atiLgRAY
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau yanked Hart, who had complained about playing 40-plus minutes per game in recent weeks, at the 5:55 mark of the fourth quarter when Hart logged 39 minutes and four seconds. The problem? @krisplashed https://t.co/HtFw8xWV0g
Josh Hart on Tom Thibodeau leaving his starters out there at the ends of blowouts (even though he didn't do that tonight): "Thibs has some trauma he has to deal with."
Josh Hart on if he wanted to stay in the game to get 20 rebounds: "That would be nice, but Thomas Thibodeau wanted to take me out of the game. Everyone complained about me playing 40 minutes. I could have gotten my 20-20 game, but he takes me out. So, appreciate it Thomas."
"He plays to win, that's what makes him so valuable to us" Tom Thibodeau on the impact Josh Hart makes & OG Anunoby's return following #Knicks win over Sixers Read more: https://t.co/Bqb5IYnVp5 https://t.co/HzQu2meL3L
Thibodeau on if Josh Hart was giving him grief about pulling him when he was one short of 20 rebounds: "He's gonna give me grief about something. It goes in one ear, out the other." Went on to talk about how all Hart cares about is winning.
Josh Hart was pumping his fist as the crowd gave him a standing ovation, but I'm pretty confident he was just celebrating that his streak of eight straight 40-minute games has officially come to an end. He'll finish tonight's game with 39.