Josh Hart explains why defending NBA champion Knicks are ‘not satisfied with one’
· Yahoo Sports
Josh Hart says the Knicks are still the “hunters” entering the 2026-27 NBA season despite coming off the franchise’s first championship in 53 years.
The Knicks are tied with LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers as the third favorite to win the title, behind the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs, per FanDuel.
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“I don’t think we have a big target because I don’t think anyone’s picking us to win again,” the Knicks standout told John McEnroe and Chris Fowler at the U.S. Open Wednesday night on ESPN.
“So we’re using it as fuel, man, we’re still the hunters. We’re not satisfied with one. Obviously, the next goal is to get another, and so you know we’re the hunters and we like playing that game.”
The Knicks open the new season Oct. 20 against LeBron and the new-look Sixers at Madison Square Garden on Ring Night.
“I can’t wait to get that ring,” Hart said. “I can’t wait, so this will be a fun one. It will be electrifying.”
Hart was at the Open watching No. 1 seed Alexander Zverev, who is known to bounce the ball 18-20 times before serving.
Asked if Zverev bounces the ball more than Hart’s current Knicks and former Villanova teammate Jalen Brunson, who can be a ball-stopper at times, Hart threw some shade Brunson’s way.
“He gotta be around 15 right now, so that’s pretty similar to Jalen,” Hart said of Zverev. “Jalen might have around 16, so he might have him beat. But whatever puts him in that mentality to go get it, hey we’re good with.”
A native of Silver Spring, Md., Hart says he’ll be back at the Open on Friday to support his fellow DMV native Frances Tiafoe, a native of Hyattsville, Md. Tiafoe will play Carlos Alcaraz-killer Ben Shelton in an all-American semifinal that guarantees an American man in Sunday’s final, possibly against Zverev.
“Yeah, man, he’s a DMV guy and we got back from vacation yesterday and I was watching [Tiafoe’s five-set quarterfinal win over fellow American Alex Michelsen],” Hart said. “I’m gonna come Friday and show my love and support to him. He does what he does, man. He lives for these moments and he was born for them.”
This will be the first-ever major semifinal between two Black American men.
“I wish it was in the finals that they were battling for, but for us and for America, it’s an incredible milestone, what 25 years after 9/11 on 9/11,” Hart said. “It’s huge for America, it’s huge for American tennis, it’s huge for the next generation watching and idolizing these guys and hopefully they’ll be able to put on a show. It’s always electric here in New York and it will be a fun one to watch. Must-see TV.”
Josh Hart says he’ll be at the US Open Friday to ‘show his love and support’ for fellow DMV native Frances Tiafoe vs. Ben Shelton pic.twitter.com/TwujNZmHOy
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) September 10, 2026
Hart isn’t the only basketball standout drawn to Tiafoe. No. 1 NBA Draft pick AJ Dybantsa and former WNBA star Lisa Leslie were front row this week in Louis Armstrong Stadium rooting on Tiafoe in his victory over former U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev.
Hart was asked if he plays tennis and how it compares to basketball.
“Nah, man, I couldn’t do this,” he said. “This is a different mentality. I need the team, I need the support system. When you’re out there on that island, that’s tough.”
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