Josh Hart passed his physical but was still inactive for the Knicks on Friday night, in a loss to the 76ers in Philadelphia.
But when Hart does make his debut with the team, head coach Tom Thibodeau says New York will be getting a big two-way boost from their newest contributor.
"Terrific defender, elite rebounder. Knows how to play," Thibodeau said of Hart, via SNY. "Makes plays for other people…The thing that I like about him is his competitive spirit. You can put him on a primary scorer and he'll make that person work.
I don't know if you really measure him statistically. I think his toughness is a big thing, and that's something that we need."
Hart's makeup certainly has Thibodeau written all over, as he is a strong defender and an elite rebounding guard, one who has a tendency to make strong cuts to the basket and can get the ball moving in transition. His 3-point shooting leaves something to be desired, but in terms of the hustle, effort, and grind that Thibodeau wants in his players, Hart seems to check all the boxes, which certainly played a role in the Knicks acquiring him from Portland.
It still remains to be seen what Hart's workload looks like in the Knicks rotation, and who might see their own workload suffer as a result of Hart's arrival, but those answers should come soon enough, as New York is back in action on Saturday night against the Jazz.
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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