Knicks' Josh Hart Faces Career-Altering Finger Injury, Opts Against Joint Replacement

New York Knicks guard Josh Hart disclosed on Thursday that his severely damaged right ring finger necessitates a joint replacement, an operation that would effectively end his playing career. Hart stated that the only medical option for his finger, due to its extensive damage, is a full joint replacement. However, he explained that the recovery and limitations following such a procedure would make it impossible to continue playing basketball.

"You can’t have the repetitive banging after joint replacement, grabbing a rebound, palming it, shooting, catching the ball, doing all that; you can’t do that," Hart said. "So if I did a joint replacement, then I wouldn’t be able to play. So I guess it’s either wrap it up until I retire or cut it off."

Hart initially injured the finger during the 2025 playoffs in the second round against the Boston Celtics. He underwent surgery, but the injury was aggravated again before the start of the most recent season. Initially, Hart believed he could manage the pain and the finger's altered state by playing through it and opting for a corrective surgery later. However, it appears the damage was too extensive for anything less than a joint replacement.

Despite the finger's condition, Hart had a successful shooting season last year, hitting 41.3 percent of his three-point attempts while wearing a brace. "It’s not the prettiest to look at, and I would love to have a straight finger," Hart commented. "But it works."

He described the persistent pain, noting that some days are better than others. "Some days, it’ll be good. Some days, it’ll hurt to catch the ball," Hart said. "It just varies. I wish I could tell you when I wake up whether it’s gonna be good or bad. Some days, it’s like a regular functioning finger. And other days, it hurts to just close my hand, to make a fist."

Coach Mike Brown acknowledged Hart's toughness, describing the finger as "ugly" but also a testament to his resilience. "Josh, he’s a handsome young man. But that finger is ugly," Brown said. "So don’t look at it. But it adds to its toughness. You know, Josh is a tough son of a b—h, man; tough. I can’t imagine having a finger like that. But it just shows who he is."

Regarding the team's preseason strategy, Brown indicated that starters would be eased in, with the final preseason game on October 15 against the Toronto Raptors serving as a dress rehearsal. "We’ll try to build them up leading to that game," Brown stated. This suggests that starters, including Hart, are unlikely to play significant minutes in the preseason opener on Monday in Philadelphia.