Tom Thibodeau noted last week the tough process for NBA coaches to pick out only seven All-Star reserves in each conference, but first-time starter Karl-Anthony Towns attempted to make a case for do-it-all teammate Josh Hart to be included when rosters are announced Thursday night.
“I told y’all I would like to damage his whole break. I would like him to be right there with us playing basketball,” Towns said of Hart after Monday’s win over the Grizzlies. “He said he desires to put his toes within the sand? Eff that. We ain’t doing that. I would like him to be an All-Star.”
It’s probably unlikely to expect the Knicks (31-16) to get a 3rd All-Star pick with so many deserving candidates within the East, however the 6-foot-4 Hart is averaging 13.9 points and profession highs in minutes (37.8), rebounds (9.8), assists (5.7), steals (1.5) and field goal percentage (.555).
Towns believes his teammate deserves to hitch him and fellow starter Jalen Brunson in San Francisco for All-Star weekend Feb. 14-16.
“I feel he does,” Towns said. “He’s one of the vital crucial parts of the team with the [third-] best record within the East. I feel Josh Hart is the guts and soul of this team. I do know everyone wants to select other people, but I feel if you’re on this locker room, you understand what he brings to our team, and there’s so many things that Josh Hart does.
“I’m super completely happy the stat sheet is showing the work he puts in but there’s so far more that he does that doesn’t come up on a stat sheet that’s so essential for us. No matter how the whole lot plays out if he’s with me and JB on that Sunday, one thing he can know during that break is he deserves to be there and all of us on this locker room feel like he does. If coaches give him the nod or not, he’s an All-Star in our minds.”
Towns and Brunson are joined as starters by Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum and Donovan Mitchell, with the likely reserves to be chosen from a bunch featuring Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Trae Young, Cade Cunningham, Tyler Herro, Damian Lillard, Pascal Siakim and others.
The Knicks haven’t had three All-Star selections in a single season since Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley and John Starks were tabbed in 1993-94, and before that, Bill Bradley, Dave DeBusschere and Walt Frazier in 1972-73.
Mikal Bridges still leads the NBA in minutes per game (38.4), but he’s averaged just 32.5 through the Knicks’ four-game winning streak since Thibodeau increased an eight-man rotation to nine by adding Landry Shamet.
Not one of the starters have logged greater than 36 minutes per game over that stretch. The bench has posted a net-rating of (+15.2) within the 4 games, and the reserves combined for 52 points Monday against Memphis.
Hart has been listed as questionable for a 3rd straight game with right knee soreness for Wednesday night against the Nuggets.
Tom Thibodeau noted last week the tough process for NBA coaches to pick out only seven All-Star reserves in each conference, but first-time starter Karl-Anthony Towns attempted to make a case for do-it-all teammate Josh Hart to be included when rosters are announced Thursday night.
“I told y’all I would like to damage his whole break. I would like him to be right there with us playing basketball,” Towns said of Hart after Monday’s win over the Grizzlies. “He said he desires to put his toes within the sand? Eff that. We ain’t doing that. I would like him to be an All-Star.”
It’s probably unlikely to expect the Knicks (31-16) to get a 3rd All-Star pick with so many deserving candidates within the East, however the 6-foot-4 Hart is averaging 13.9 points and profession highs in minutes (37.8), rebounds (9.8), assists (5.7), steals (1.5) and field goal percentage (.555).
Towns believes his teammate deserves to hitch him and fellow starter Jalen Brunson in San Francisco for All-Star weekend Feb. 14-16.
“I feel he does,” Towns said. “He’s one of the vital crucial parts of the team with the [third-] best record within the East. I feel Josh Hart is the guts and soul of this team. I do know everyone wants to select other people, but I feel if you’re on this locker room, you understand what he brings to our team, and there’s so many things that Josh Hart does.
“I’m super completely happy the stat sheet is showing the work he puts in but there’s so far more that he does that doesn’t come up on a stat sheet that’s so essential for us. No matter how the whole lot plays out if he’s with me and JB on that Sunday, one thing he can know during that break is he deserves to be there and all of us on this locker room feel like he does. If coaches give him the nod or not, he’s an All-Star in our minds.”
Towns and Brunson are joined as starters by Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum and Donovan Mitchell, with the likely reserves to be chosen from a bunch featuring Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Trae Young, Cade Cunningham, Tyler Herro, Damian Lillard, Pascal Siakim and others.
The Knicks haven’t had three All-Star selections in a single season since Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley and John Starks were tabbed in 1993-94, and before that, Bill Bradley, Dave DeBusschere and Walt Frazier in 1972-73.
Mikal Bridges still leads the NBA in minutes per game (38.4), but he’s averaged just 32.5 through the Knicks’ four-game winning streak since Thibodeau increased an eight-man rotation to nine by adding Landry Shamet.
Not one of the starters have logged greater than 36 minutes per game over that stretch. The bench has posted a net-rating of (+15.2) within the 4 games, and the reserves combined for 52 points Monday against Memphis.
Hart has been listed as questionable for a 3rd straight game with right knee soreness for Wednesday night against the Nuggets.
