thelesterlee
From 2018-2021. Ben Simmons was one of the best defenders in the NBA who would force guys into terrible shots, grab those rebounds, push the pace down the court, and use his natural court vision to find open shooters, racking up assists.
Despite being a triple-double machine capable of guarding strong wings as well as quick guards, Simmons refused to ever look up at the basket or take any shots further away from arm’s length of the rim.
Ben Simmons played 15 games for the Brooklyn Nets this season and was shut down with the same back injury that has made him irrelevant since leaving the Sixers. But the Ben believers have always wanted to see what he looks like with a jump shot or like, a self-esteem.
Well that player exists right now.
Josh Hart put together an unreal triple-double stat line in the Knicks’ win over the Sixers 🗽
20 PTS | 19 REB | 10 AST pic.twitter.com/KzrNljEGvC
— NBA (@NBA) March 13, 2024
Last season, the Knicks traded (S)Cam Reddish to the Blazers for Josh Hart, immediately leading to a 9-game win streak as Josh became the best on-ball defender on the team and his offensive selflessness was crucial on a team with Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett and Julius Randle taking turns isoing back and forth.
Hart was crucial in the Knicks beatdown of the Cavs in the first round and he did the best he could against Playoff Jimmy Butler. Regardless of the outcome of the Knicks second round series, Josh Hart thought he did enough to come into the next season with coach Thibs drawing up some plays for him.
That was not the case.
At the end of November, Josh Hart complained about his lack of usage. Here’s what Hart said about his lack of shot attempts:
“I’m a rhythm player. So sometimes if I don’t touch the ball for four or five minutes running up and down the floor, just catch-and-shoot, I might as well be playing with a football. I feel like I have no feel for [the ball]. There are definitely times I [pass up shots] because I’m not in the rhythm. I don’t like the feel of it.”
Success in this world is all about who you know and Josh Hart knows the best Knicks point guard of all time, Jalen Brunson, so the Knicks cleared every obstacle in Hart’s way. They traded RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley AND Quentin Grimes to give Josh Hart more minutes and Hart has made the most of those minutes.
The biggest change in Hart’s game this season was evolving into Ben Simmon’s final form as he snatches defensive rebounds out of the sky and rushes down the court to lead the fastbreak instead of looking for a guard to outlet it to as they slowly jog up.
And just like Ben Simmons, Hart kinda sucks at shooting. He’s shooting 42% from the field and 32% from 3 but his willingness to take the jumper makes him so much more valuable than Simmons.
Josh Hart plays with an edge and aggressiveness that this Knicks team will need for the next couple years as young teams like the Cavs, Pacers and Magic attempt to solidify their place in the league.
These kids have to go through Josh Hart talking shit, OG Anunoby living inside of their jerseys, Isaiah Hartstein fouling the shit out of them, Mitchell Robinson tapping every rebound to himself, Julius Randle bulldozing them, Donte DiVincenzo hitting dagger 3’s and Jalen Brunson’s ability to go out there and score 2 points whenever he wants to score 2 points.
Good fucking luck.
Meanwhile, Ben Simmons is still terrified to take a jumper and pretends not to have an Australian accent because he’s a poser and a dork. Maybe it’s time to take all of that attention Ben was getting in Philly and give it to Josh Hart who is out here playing 40+ minutes every night and giving his all to the game of basketball.
Oh and everyone go watch Hart’s boring ass podcast with Jalen Brunson as the two of them, along with one of their college buddies, mumble into microphones, telling the least interesting stories you’ll ever hear.
Is Josh Hart the most important player on the Knicks? Leave a comment below. Respond on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Or shoot me an email at Deadseriousmailbag@gmail.com. Let’s chat, bay-beeeee. Let me know if you think Ben Simmons is better than Josh Hart so I can scream at you.
