Jalen Brunson on new Knick Josh Hart: ‘tough-minded guy’

PHILADELPHIA — Jalen Brunson cracked a smile ever so barely, permitting himself a second of levity after the Knicks’ irritating loss to the 76ers.

Sure, Brunson stated, enjoying with Josh Hart at Villanova helped him turn out to be an NBA participant. But it surely was additionally harmful at occasions going up towards him in observe.

“He tried to kill me a pair occasions for positive,” Brunson stated after the Knicks’ 119-108 loss to the 76ers on Friday night time. “You’re laughing and I’m lifeless severe.”

Hart, who was acquired by the Knicks from the Path Blazers in a deal Tursday that additionally included the Hornets and 76ers, definitely has an edge to him. Brunson noticed that up shut for 2 years on the Large East college. He’ll get to expertise it once more now with the Knicks.

“He’s a tough-minded man,” Brunson stated. “He doesn’t again down from a problem and that’s how he’s and that’s how he’s been. I’m not apprehensive in any respect. He’s going to slot in.”

Hart was on-hand Friday, however wasn’t energetic. He’s anticipated to make his Knicks debut on the Backyard on Saturday night time towards the Jazz. His position is unsure. Coach Tom Thibodeau didn’t say if he deliberate to start out Hart or deliver him off the bench. Thibodeau doesn’t imagine it’s who begins that’s essential, however who finishes.

Hart averaged 9.5 factors, 8.2 rebounds and three.9 assists in 33.4 minutes for the Path Blazers. He keyed a win for Portland over the Knicks on the Backyard on Nov. 25, when he had 10 factors, 19 rebounds, 4 assists and two steals.

On the time, Thibodeau referred to as him the most effective rebounding guard within the league. The Knicks want assist in that space. They’re tied for nineteenth within the league in defensive rebounding share at 71.3 and twenty first in second-chance factors allowed per sport (14.3). Hart is fourth amongst guards within the NBA within the defensive rebounding share at 18.9, trailing solely Luka Doncic, Jarrett Culver and Jayson Tatum.

“The factor that I like about him is simply his aggressive spirit, so I feel you may put him on a main scorer and he’ll make that individual work,” Thibodeau stated. “I don’t know for those who actually measure [this] statistically. I feel his toughness is an enormous factor and that’s one thing that we want.”

It appears that evidently Hart will slot in properly with the second unit of Quickley, Obi Toppin and Isaiah Hartenstein, a gaggle that may actually get out in transition. He’s very conversant in Brunson, too, and began all 51 video games he appeared in for Portland this yr.

“He does rather a lot. He can do every thing. And I feel with him, he has a mindset of regardless of the crew wants, he can fulfill that,” Brunson stated. “That’s how he’s all the time been since [Villanova] and he’s gotten higher and higher at it every year. He’s only a competitor and he’s only a man that desires to win and can do no matter it takes simply to win.”