Jalen Brunson on fresh Knick Josh Hart: ‘a tough guy’

PHILADELPHIA — Jalen Brunson smiled ever so fairly, permitting himself a date of levity then the Knicks’ irritating loss to the 76ers.

Sure, Brunson stated, taking part in with Josh Hart at Villanova helped him turn into an NBA participant. Nevertheless it was once additionally occasionally unhealthy to come back up in opposition to him in coaching.

“He tried to kill me a few times,” Brunson stated then the Knicks’ 119-108 loss to the 76ers on Friday evening. “You are laughing and I am very serious.”

Hart, who was once got by means of the Knicks from the Path Blazers in a Thursday offer that still incorporated the Hornets and 76ers, indubitably has an edge over him. Brunson noticed this firsthand for 2 years at Fat East Faculty. He’s going to repeat the revel in now with the Knicks.

“He’s a tough guy,” Brunson stated. “He doesn’t back down from a challenge and that’s how he is and that’s how he’s been. I’m not worried at all. He’s going to fit in.”

Hart was once on website online Friday, however was once no longer lively. He’s anticipated to build his debut for the Knicks on the Ground on Saturday evening in opposition to the Jazz. Its function is unsure. Tutor Tom Thibodeau hasn’t stated whether or not he plans to start out Hart or get him off the bench. Thibodeau does no longer consider that it’s who begins that counts, however who ends.

Hart averaged 9.5 issues, 8.2 rebounds and three.9 assists in 33.4 mins for the Path Blazers. He scored a victory for Portland over the Knicks on the Ground on November 25, when he had 10 issues, 19 rebounds, 4 assists and two steals.

On the past, Thibodeau known as him the most efficient rebounding goaltender within the league. The Knicks want assistance on this branch. They’re attach for nineteenth within the league in defensive rebound share at 71.3 and twenty first in 2d anticipation issues allowed in keeping with recreation (14.3). Hart is fourth amongst NBA guards in defensive rebound share at 18.9, at the back of best Luka Doncic, Jarrett Culver and Jayson Tatum.

“What I like about him is his competitive spirit, so I think you can put him on a lead scorer and he’ll make that person work,” Thibodeau stated. “I don’t know if you really measure [this] statistically. I think his tenacity is a big thing and it’s something we need.

It looks like Hart will fit in well with the second unit of Quickley, Obi Toppin and Isaiah Hartenstein, a group that can really come out on transition. He also knows Brunson very well and has started all 51 games he has played for Portland this year.

” It makes a quantity. He can do anything else. And I believe with him he has a mindset of regardless of the staff wishes, he can ship,” Brunson stated. “That’s the way it’s at all times been ever since. [Villanova] and it were given higher and higher each and every moment. He’s only a competitor and he’s only a man who desires to win and can do no matter it takes to win.