Josh Hart makes Knicks history twice with triple-double performance against Mavericks

Those in attendance at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night were treated to Knicks history. Twice. Courtesy of Josh Hart.

Hart, who is having a career season in his third year with the Knicks, posted his ninth triple-double of the season after his 16 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists lifted New York to a 128-113 win over the Dallas Mavericks. The significance of nine is it puts Hart as the top triple-double getter in Knicks single-season history after his performance Tuesday night broke Walt "Clyde" Frazier's record of eight.

The former Knick great, and current broadcaster, posted those eight triple-doubles back during the 1968-69 season. A record that stood for more than 55 years until Hart's all-around play this season put him in the record books.

"Any time you get a record, it's pretty special because of the greatness of this league," coach Tom Thibodeau said of Hart's record after the game. "To do what he’s doing, is a testament to what he's put into it. Also, his teammates and feeding off each other."

“It’s just a blessing. I got a great group of guys, great, high-character group of guys," Hart said of his record. "Means I at least played nine good games so far out of 60-whatever [games]. It’s just a blessing, can’t say more than that."

Hart is never one to make personal accomplishments about himself, no matter how great they are. A humbling character for a player who is a bulldog on the court while doing it all without the accolades -- he's never been named to an All-Star game -- or the name recognition of some of his teammates.

And yet, you ask his coaches and teammates what Hart means to this team and they won't be able to stop singing his praises.

"It’s hard to describe what he is to the team," Thibodeau said of Hart. "At times he’s a facilitator, a rebounder, a pace guy, he’s a hustle guy. And at the end, he’s done a number of things to help you win. The effort plays, that unites and inspires the team."

"The way he’s doing it is special," Karl-Anthony Towns said of his teammate. "I'm just happy that Josh gets stats on the sheet that show the impact he's making on the game. 

"There's much more stats that don't show up on the stat sheet that he does for our team. I’m happy he’s having this moment where the effort, the sacrifice and the work he puts in for our team to be the best version of ourselves is showing up…so he can get his respect and accolades. He deserves it."

Towns, one of those recognizable names on the Knicks, was a big part of Hart's second record-breaking night. The duo became the first Knicks teammates in their history to record a triple-double in the same game. It's also only the 17th time in NBA history that it's happened.

Hart has witnessed that sort of history in the past while a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. Back in 2018, he was on the team that saw LeBron James and Lonzo Ball have that special night.

"Now full circle, I’m in the same situation with KAT," Hart said of the parallels from that night.

But in classic Hart fashion, his thoughts are on the Knicks' next game. The second of their back-to-back, this time against the Los Angeles Clippers.

"Just hope we can carry that for tomorrow," he said.