Josh Hart was widely seen as a perfect fit for Tom Thibodeau when he was traded to the Knicks, especially when considering his defensive energy and his rebounding prowess.
Just two games in to his New York tenure, Hart is already receiving some high praise from his new head coach.
After Hart dropped 27 points in a blowout win over the Nets on Monday night, Thibodeau told reporters that Hart’s game reminded him of another player he coached, a six-time All-Star in Jimmy Butler.
“Watching Jimmy in college and the things he did at Marquette, Josh reminded me of that with the things he did at Villanova,” Thibodeau said. “There’s just something about him. I think those types of players, they give your team heart, toughness, and that goes a long way.”
Of course, Butler’s offensive game is more potent than Hart’s, but both get it done on the defensive end, and both put up similar rebounding numbers. But if Hart continues to let it fly from beyond the arc and show the offensive production he has so far with the Knicks, the comparisons to Butler won’t seem so drastic.
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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