INDIANAPOLIS — Josh Hart’s issues aren’t exclusive to his shooting. The Knicks veteran said he was struggling mentally starting a disappointing season and didn’t know how to cope.
“I wish I could tell you,” Hart said. “I don’t know. Right now I’m not in a good state of mind and I have to figure out how to improve that. And improve my game.”
Asked what that meant, Hart, who shot just 36 percent this season, said: “Just mentally. I have to be better mentally. I have to figure things out.”
Hart finished scoreless Friday night and was benched for the entire fourth quarter of a 106-104 loss to the Pacers, one of the low points in a season that never got on track for the 31-year-old.
He is a candidate for an extension, but the Knicks released a statement in October saying they were ending all negotiations, including those for Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Hart revealed Friday that he suffered a calf injury before training camp, which took a toll on his fitness. He then injured his ankle and missed three games.
Part of the problem is the list.
The Knicks are loaded with wings and guards, creating traffic jams and sporadic playing time. Mikal Bridges was also benched, while coach Mike Brown relied on Landry Shamet and Miles McBride.
Brown acknowledged it might be difficult to find time for Bridges and Hart.
“There are many different ways to look at it,” Hart said. “You can look at it, if they do it, cool. Good. You can look at it like, ‘OK, maybe something else needs to change.'”
Hart didn’t specify the “change,” but logic indicates he was talking about a trade. Three years ago, Leon Rose faced a similar conundrum. Too many guards, not enough minutes.
So Rose traded two – RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley – for a bigger forward in OG Anunoby.
Starting Sunday, the Knicks will face Barrett and Quickley twice in three days in Toronto, while Hart tries to find better open space.
Gn sports
