Josh Hart said the New York Knicks were ready to move on from their championship celebrations and focus on the new season after opening their title defense with a 106-100 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night.
The Knicks raised their championship banner and received their rings at Madison Square Garden before the game, celebrating their first NBA title since 1973. Hart described the occasion as a memorable moment but stressed the importance of returning to basketball.
“Yeah, it was super dope. A moment you dream of. So it was cool,” Hart said. “Now it’s good to kind of turn the page and kind of get back to the reality and the regularity schedule program.”
Hart rejected the suggestion that the ceremony created an emotional hangover that affected the team’s performance.
“Nah, I mean, we’re a professional at the end of the day. So, you know, we’re not going to panic,” he said. “We can gain one. We got 81, hopefully, plus more. So, you know, a couple tweaks here or there, it would be good.”
New York had opportunities to erase Philadelphia’s lead in the fourth quarter but could not complete the comeback. The Knicks cut the deficit to 96-95 after Karl-Anthony Towns connected from three-point range, only for Joel Embiid to answer with a three-pointer of his own.
Asked what went wrong down the stretch, Hart pointed to missed shots and defensive transition.
“We missed some shots. We didn’t get back in a couple of plays on, you know, defensive transition,” he said.
Hart also acknowledged the challenge presented by a Philadelphia team that added Jaylen Brown and LeBron James during the offseason. Brown finished with 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 28 points.
“I mean, obviously, it’s a good team, good personnel, championship coach. They’re going to be tough. They’re going to be tough all year,” Hart said. “So this is going to be a good battle. I think today was a good little test, feeling out period.”
The Knicks guard expects both teams to look different when they meet again.
“Hopefully when we play them, we’re not the same team we were today. And I’m sure they probably won’t be either,” Hart said.
Despite the defeat, Hart said taking the court as defending champions did not feel different. He also emphasized the personal significance of celebrating the title with New York fans before turning his attention to the campaign ahead.
“Something like that, you always, it’s special, it has a special place in your heart,” he said. “Like I said, now that we’re happy that all of that’s over with, and we can fully turn the page and focus on this year.”
The Knicks will look to respond Friday when they visit the Boston Celtics.
