New York Knicks guard Josh Hart has responded to the franchise’s decision to suspend contract extension negotiations, saying he is not particularly concerned about the situation.
The Knicks announced Friday that they would postpone extension discussions until later in the season as they attempt to manage their payroll and remain below the NBA’s second luxury-tax apron.
The decision affects Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns and Miles McBride, all of whom are eligible for contract extensions.
Hart, who can sign a four-year extension worth up to $131.2 million, had previously expressed hope that his contract situation would be resolved before the start of the season.
However, speaking after Saturday’s practice, the veteran guard insisted that he remains focused on basketball.
“Everything is gonna work out, so I’m not really too stressed over it, [or] put too much into it,” Hart said after practice Saturday. “Obviously, we have high expectations. It’s good to be able to just focus on the season and keep it moving.”
Hart is scheduled to earn $20.9 million this season, while his contract includes a $22.3 million team option for the following campaign.
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Although the 31-year-old would prefer to secure his long-term future, he emphasized that the lack of an agreement has not changed his outlook.
“At the end of the day, I’m under contract in New York,” Hart said. “We have a hell of a team that’s gonna try and repeat. I’m in an amazing situation off the court. No, it’s not frustrating.
“Obviously, you want to get some of those things done, but if it doesn’t, it’s nothing where you lose sleep over it. We’re blessed to be out here playing basketball for a living.
“It’s not frustrating, we just gotta make sure we continue to block out the noise and whatever rumors that whatever random person says their sources said on Twitter or whatever you want to say, we just gotta block that out and keep it moving.”
