Josh Hart

Hart is an American guard who has built a versatile NBA career as a hustle player, rebounder, and defensive specialist since being drafted in the first round in 2017. He has played for the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers, and New York Knicks, winning an NBA championship with the Knicks in 2026.

Born Joshua Aaron Hart on March 6, 1995, in Silver Spring, Maryland, he attended Sidwell Friends School, where as a senior he averaged 24.3 points, 13.4 rebounds, and 2.8 steals. He signed with Villanova in November 2012 and became an Eagle Scout in 2013.

At Villanova, Hart was named Big East tournament Most Outstanding Player as a sophomore. As a junior, he was a third-team All-American and helped the Wildcats win the 2016 national championship. As a senior, he was a consensus first-team All-American. He declared for the 2017 NBA draft, and the Lakers selected him in the first round.

Hart played two seasons with the Lakers before being traded to New Orleans in 2019 as part of the Anthony Davis deal. He played three seasons with the Pelicans and was traded to Portland in 2022 for CJ McCollum. At the 2023 trade deadline, he was dealt to the New York Knicks. He holds the Knicks franchise record for most triple-doubles in a single season and won an NBA championship with the team in 2026.

Hart is a versatile guard with elite rebounding for his size, defensive hustle, and playmaking vision. He scores on cuts, putbacks, and transition opportunities, and he uses his strength to guard bigger opponents and generate steals. His offensive game is not built on volume shooting, but his rebounding and defensive energy make him a valuable rotation piece.

Hart enters each season as a veteran guard with a national championship, an NBA title, and a franchise triple-double record on his resume. His trajectory from a Maryland high school to a Villanova star, a first-round pick, and a championship-winning Knick reflects adaptability, defensive tenacity, and a willingness to embrace a role built on hustle and winning.