Josh Hart Says He’ll Play Through Severe Finger Damage

Josh Hart is choosing the court over an operation that he says would end his NBA career.

The New York Knicks guard told The Athletic after Thursday’s practice that his damaged right ring finger now requires a full joint replacement. Because that replacement could not withstand the repeated contact involved in catching, shooting, and rebounding, Hart said he will not have the procedure while he is still playing.

How the injury reached this point

Hart first hurt the finger during the 2025 Eastern Conference finals against Indiana. He had surgery that offseason, then aggravated it during a Knicks scrimmage before the 2025–26 season. He played the entire championship season with the finger protected by a splint or wrap.

The original plan was to repair the finger again after the season. Hart said doctors instead determined this summer that a full joint replacement was the remaining surgical option. He now expects to keep protecting the finger during games and address the replacement after his playing career.

The basketball question is pain management

Hart said the discomfort changes from day to day. Sometimes the finger functions normally; on other days, closing his hand or catching the ball hurts. That uncertainty matters for a player whose game depends on rebounding, physical defense, and quick decisions with the ball.

It did not stop him from producing last season. According to The Athletic’s report published by NBA.com, Hart made a career-best 41 percent of his three-point attempts while the finger continued to deteriorate. The Knicks’ official player page lists Hart as a current guard for New York.

Kris’s Take

Hart’s toughness is part of what makes him valuable, but this should not become a story about proving how much pain a player can absorb. The Knicks won a championship with Hart doing the dirty work, and now they owe him smart workload management and honest communication when the finger limits him. Playing through it is Hart’s choice. Protecting him from having to make that choice every night is the team’s responsibility.

Sources

Hart’s description of the injury, treatment options, and plan to keep playing: The Athletic report published by NBA.com, October 2, 2026. Current team and player listing: New York Knicks official player page. Photo source and verified license: Wikimedia Commons.