The New York Knicks are preparing to host the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years.
After knocking off the Boston Celtics, the New York Knicks will take on old rivals the Indiana Pacers for supremacy in the Eastern Conference, and a ticket to the NBA Finals.
Former New York Knicks star Patrick Ewing is excited by the current team’s potential, and one player in particular has caught his eye with the way he contributes.
And that player is Josh Hart, who became the first Knicks player since Walt Frazier to produce a triple-double in the playoffs.
Knicks legend Patrick Ewing was asked about Josh Hart during an interview on The Rematch podcast.
Ewing compared Hart’s impact to Chicago Bulls legend Dennis Rodman, noting that while they are different in size, they play with a similar attitude.
He responded: “I’ve been very impressed. He’s like a Dennis Rodman type but not as big.
“He hustles, he does all the dirty work you need a team to do to be successful.
“He’s going to go in there to get a rebound. He’s going to try to get a stop, try to get a steal, he’s going to drive to get a layup.
“He doesn’t just sit out there and jack up shots, he figures out other ways to try and help the team. If there’s a big rebound, he’s going to go out there and get it.”
Ewing also paid tribute to the way Hart took an elbow to the head from Luke Kornet in Game 5 with the Celtics, before coming back into the game, and starting the next one.
“He got bloodied up in Boston but he’s still out there competing,” Ewing added.
Josh Hart averaged 14.5 points per game during the series with the Boston Celtics, along with 8.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists.
The top line came in the Knicks’ decisive Game 6 victory that sealed a 4-2 series win, with a 10-11-11 triple double.
Hart added four blocks and three steals during the series, and he will have to be locked-in up against an electric Pacers team, who will present a totally different type of challenge.
