From Montgomery County Recreation League gyms to the doorstep of an NBA championship with the New York Knicks, Silver Spring native Josh Hart has been a winner everywhere he has played.
Hart’s trademark toughness and hustle have made him one of the most popular players in New York. The Knicks are trying to end a championship drought dating back to 1973.
Hart has been a key contributor in the playoffs, including a 26-point performance in a Game 2 win over Cleveland, a playoff career high.
The Knicks will face the Spurs for the NBA title. Game 1 of the best-of-seven series is Wednesday night in San Antonio.
Hart attended Wheaton High School before transferring to Sidwell Friends in Washington, D.C., where he was a first-team All-Met selection as a senior. He later helped lead Villanova to the 2016 NCAA championship. His legacy was cemented in 2022 when the school retired his No. 3 jersey.
Hart was a first-round pick in the 2017 NBA Draft and has played for the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans and Portland Trail Blazers before finding a home in New York.