Josh Hart says only fix for finger injury is career-ending surgery

Dustin Judge
New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) looks on during the first half.

New York Knicks forward Josh Hart is playing through a finger injury that he says can only be fixed with a joint replacement surgery that would end his NBA career. Hart revealed the diagnosis himself on social media Tuesday, responding to a photo of him practicing with the finger taped up.

“So it will be wrapped until I retire,” Hart said, according to Bleacher Report.

What Josh Hart said about the injury

Hart has not put a formal name or timeline on the injury beyond confirming that a joint replacement is the only surgical option and that it would end his career. Neither Hart nor the Knicks have issued any injury designation, and there is no indication he plans to have the procedure or miss any games because of it. The finger will simply stay wrapped for the rest of his playing days, per his own comments.

No change to his role

The taped finger has not slowed Hart down on the court. He played through it all of last season without missing time because of it, and there has been no report of the Knicks limiting his workload or listing him on an injury report tied to the finger heading into training camp.

Season context

Hart was a key piece of New York’s run to its first NBA championship since 1973 last season. He averaged 12 points and 41.3% from three-point range last season, up from 33.3% the previous year, while contributing 7.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game and adding 1.1 steals per contest. He scored in double figures in two of the final three NBA Finals games against the San Antonio Spurs and had a 26-point outburst in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Hart’s do-everything role allowed Jalen Brunson to focus more on offense, and the Knicks will lean on that same versatility again as they try to defend their title.

What’s next

The Knicks open training camp this week with Hart expected to be a full participant, and the finger injury is not expected to affect his availability for the regular season. New York also added depth to its roster Wednesday, signing guard Jaden Akins to a two-way contract after he averaged 15.1 points and 5.2 assists for the G League’s Motor City Cruise last season, according to CBS Sports.

Reporting from CBS Sports, Bleacher Report and Sporting News contributed to this story.

Dustin Judge is the Founder and CEO of Total Apex Media, bringing more than 20 years of writing and editorial experience to the company's growing network of digital publications. He specializes in sports, sports betting, fantasy sports, and digital publishing, with a focus on producing accurate, timely, and engaging content for readers. Dustin oversees editorial strategy, content development, and publishing operations across Total Apex Media while remaining actively involved in sports, betting, and fantasy sports coverage.