After 3-and-D wings, Swiss army knives are the next best role players in the NBA. Now, what may that be? Much like a Swiss army knife has multiple functions and can be used for various jobs, these are NBA players who can do a bit of everything. Score, play make, rebound, defend, whatever you can think of.
As I left the Magic-Knicks game on Wednesday night, sitting in the car, I came to a conclusion (or a realization). Josh Hart is the NBA’s best Swiss Army Knife. I hadn’t given much thought to this, and as a Knicks fan, I knew the value Hart brings to the Knicks. However, Swiss Army Knives are not the usual role players we consider. 3-and-D wings are the Kings of NBA role players, and everyone else is secondary. So, what makes Hart so special?
Josh Hart is the NBA’s Best Swiss Army Knife
Statistics
105 players average as many points as Josh Hart. Of those 105, only 30 players average more than 8 rebounds. Only nine players in the NBA average more than 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. Who are those players?
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokić, Paolo Banchero, Jayson Tatum, Scottie Barnes, Domantas Sabonis, Jalen Johnson, Alperen Sengun, and… Josh Hart.
He’s in the same breath as three champions, multiple All-NBA members, All-Stars, and MVP winners. There’s not much better company than this. On the season, only six players have more triple-doubles than Hart. He’s one of the best shooters in the league this season (96th percentile True-Shooting percentage), a good rebounder (82nd percentile Defensive Rebounding percentage), and a good play maker (74th percentile assist percentage). Not many guys can do all three things at a high level in the NBA, and Hart’s the best of this elite minority.
The best part? The Knicks can consistently feel Josh Hart’s impact on the court because of his whopping 37.1 minutes per game, fourth in the NBA. However, there’s much more to Hart’s game than just the statistical numbers of his production.
Josh Hart’s Intangibles
On the Court
In yesterday’s game in the Magic, Hart’s ability to grab a board on defense and then sprint down the court to catch the defense off guard was on full display. He sprints down the court, and either gets an easy layup, gets fouled, or passes out of a collapsing defense to a shooter on the perimeter, opening up an easy shot. He does all the little things that help the Knicks win games.
Alongside OG Anunoby, Hart ranks top-10 in the NBA in deflections per game. He’s fourth in the NBA in loose balls recovered per game and is somebody who will give each game their all. All of his improvements and efforts are resulting in the best season in his eight-year career. He’s never had a higher PER, WS/48, or box plus-minus. Hart’s do-it-all mentality combined with the talent of the players around him has helped the Knicks get through their rough patches relatively unscathed.
Off the Court
Additionally, there’s so much to love about Josh Hart the person. From moments like this:
Jalen Brunson: “I want to win the NBA Cup to help my teammates on minimum salaries and two-way deals get that $500K payday.”
Josh Hart: “No. I wanna win cause I want a damn watch. The new [Audemars Piguet].” 💀
(via @Krisplashed, h/t @YahooSports) pic.twitter.com/w7quhwB5Fv
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) December 3, 2024
and this:
Josh Hart is showing the right mindset when it comes to supporting Mikal Bridges through his struggles. pic.twitter.com/j1fYTQI2LC
— KnicksNation (@KnicksNation) November 30, 2024
Hart does everything you want from a teammate. He can be funny and light-hearted when needed, but he has full faith in everybody on his team and will go to war for them if need be. In today’s NBA, we often see this lack of camaraderie between players when the team isn’t fully performing or one player is struggling, but Hart’s an anomaly (much like the Knicks).
