LeBron JamesPlayer·LeBron James has seen just about every kind of role player in two decades of playoff basketball, which is why his praise for New York KnicksTeam·New York Knicks guard Josh HartPlayer·Josh Hart lands with real weight during this Finals run.
Speaking on the "Mind The Game" podcast, James singles out Hart as a "winning player," drawing a line between the New York guard’s game and the impact archetype often associated with Draymond Green. The focus is not on volume scoring, but on the connective tissue plays that tilt postseason series.
According to the discussion, James highlights Hart’s competitive edge and his willingness to do the work that rarely leads a highlight reel: crashing the glass, making the extra pass, digging in defensively, and being ready when defenses dare him to shoot. In James’ view, those details separate players who simply put up numbers from those who help teams advance.
That description tracks with Hart’s current postseason. Through 17 playoff starts, Hart is averaging 10.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game, numbers that underscore his two-way presence as the Knicks chase their first title since the late 1990s. His rebounding from the backcourt continues to shape possessions, and his passing keeps New York’s half-court offense flowing when primary options see extra pressure.
James points specifically to Hart’s response when opponents sag off him. In Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland CavaliersTeam·Cleveland Cavaliers, Hart poured in 26 points after being left open, punishing the coverage and reinforcing that he can both initiate and finish plays when the moment demands it. It is the exact type of adjustment that shifts how a defense can scheme the rest of a series.
The praise also carries an added layer because of the shared history. Hart began his career alongside James with the Los Angeles LakersTeam·Los Angeles Lakers, part of a young core that has since been scattered across the league. Their former connection in Los Angeles gives James a front-row perspective on how Hart’s game has evolved from promising role player to trusted playoff starter on a contender.
For the Knicks, Hart’s emergence as a trusted closer matters as the margins shrink in June. New York finished the regular season 53-29, good for the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, and has ridden its depth and versatility to the NBA FinalsCompetition·NBA Finals. Hart has been central to that identity, averaging 11.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists over his last seven postseason games, including the Finals.
Even in the Knicks’ recent Game 3 loss to the San Antonio SpursTeam·San Antonio Spurs, Hart delivers 16 points on 6-for-10 shooting, nine rebounds, and five assists, a line that reflects the all-court impact James is describing. When New York needs extra rim pressure, Hart is attacking closeouts. When the offense stalls, he is initiating pick-and-rolls or keeping the ball moving. When shots go up, he is often the first guard flying into the paint to extend possessions.
James’ comments also arrive against the backdrop of his own playoff exit. The Los Angeles LakersTeam·Los Angeles Lakers, who went 53-29 and finished fourth in the Western Conference, bowed out in the second round after being swept by the Oklahoma City ThunderTeam·Oklahoma City Thunder. From that vantage point, James has shifted into observer mode, using his platform to spotlight players whose games mirror the layered, possession-by-possession impact that has defined his career.
For Hart, the endorsement reinforces a growing league-wide reputation. He is not the focal point of New York’s offense, but he has become a tone-setter: willing to guard up a position, attack the glass, and make the extra rotation that rarely shows up in traditional metrics. In a Finals series where every possession is contested and every adjustment magnified, that profile is invaluable.
As the Knicks hold a 2–1 lead over the Spurs in the NBA FinalsCompetition·NBA Finals, Hart’s role only grows more critical. Opponents will continue to test his jumper and his decision-making under pressure. If he keeps responding the way James describes, New York’s chances of finishing this run with a championship will rest in part on the work of a role player now publicly stamped as a "winning" one by one of the game’s defining stars.
LeBron James of the Lakers looks to pass over Josh Hart of the Knicks. (Agencia EFE/IMAGO)
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