‘No Doctors Are Messing With That,’ ‘Pay This Man’ — Knicks Fans Rally Behind Josh Hart’s Plan to Play Through Career-Altering Injury

Dev Pawar Wed, September 30, 2026 at 8:07 AM UTC

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Sep 28, 2026; Tarrytown, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) speaks during media day at the MSG training facility. © Brad Penner-Imagn Images

While many NBA players capitalize on the offseason to ramp up recovery efforts and undergo procedures to address nagging injuries, Josh Hart is taking another route.

Coming off his first NBA championship, the New York Knicks’ fan favorite responded to concerns about his taped finger, explaining his decision to play through the injury. Hart’s resolve elicited an outpouring of support from the Knicks faithful.

Josh Hart’s Clarification on Finger Injury Receives Backing

With the NBA season approaching, most players and teams have been hard at work with regular practices and training sessions. Of course, media day and press conferences have increased visibility.

Fans usually dissect every little detail of the players’ games, including injury concerns and availability. During the offseason, Hart was under scrutiny for training with his taped fingers, which suggested he had decided against surgery.

The NBA community online flagged the worrying nature immediately, prompting the 2026 Champion to clear the air long before the upcoming campaign began.

“Just so I don’t got to answer this question anymore. There is no other surgery for me to get besides a joint replacement,” Hart wrote on X. “If I get a joint replacement, I can’t play with it and my career is over. So it will be wrapped until I retire.”

Hart’s statement was enough to appease most fans, many turning to joke about the situation — especially if you consider his previous season and the Knicks’ historic NBA win.

“41.3% from three last year. No doctors are messing with that,” Knicks writer Steve Popper wrote on X.

A crucial playmaker in New York, Hart averaged 12 points per game last season while shooting 41.3% from the three-point line and 50.8% from the field despite playing with the wrap. His efficiency only cemented the belief in the 31-year-old veteran guard.

“Hart of a Champion 🧡💙,” another Knicks’ fanpage quipped with some wordplay.

“Crooked finger shot like 40% last season, so I say leave it forever,” one user declared.

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Another Knicks fan and substack writer only echoed the sentiment, writing: “Don’t need to change anything when you shoot 40% from 3 over a full season lol.”

Hart’s 40+% shooting is a big jump from the 2024-25 season, where he scored 33.3% from the three-point range.

One user also pointed out that Hart’s team loves him, noting how times have changed now.

“Throwback player. There was a time when this wouldn’t be a “thing”, NBD. This is part of the reason his team loves him.🏆,” the fan explained.

Writer Mark Sable joined in on the support and even asked the team to pay Hart: “Pay this man”

Currently playing on an $80.9 million, four-year contract with the Knicks, Hart recently addressed a possible extension.

Hart admitted that although he would love to get it done, multiple factors were at play. Of course, he asserted that he loved the city, even adding that a move would also affect his home life.

KEEP READING:‘I’m Not Pain-Free’ – Lonzo Ball Makes Devastating Knee Injury Admission While Shutting Down Retirement Talk

Hart will earn $20.9 million for the 2026-27 season and has a $22.4 million team option for 2027-28.

That being said, apart from an impressive showing from the deep, Hart also averaged 7.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists. During the Knicks’ championship-winning playoff run, he averaged 10.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 4.6 assists.

New York will be opening their title defense with a regular-season clash against the LeBron James-led Philadelphia 76ers on October 20.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.

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Source: “AOL Sports”