Article graphics by Omar Zahran (@omarzahran.bsky.social on Bluesky)
Playing in New York City often has its privileges. Players who might have been marginal stars in other places can ink lucrative deals as a Knick performing on the court. Julius Randle was proof of this, inking multiple brand deals after his breakout season.
Of the current batch of Knicks, Josh Hart has elevated his stature as a national figure more than anyone could have dreamed. Once a late first-round pick who seemed destined to be a fixture in the trade machine, Hart has established himself as a bedrock of the Knicks, an example of the type of player Knicks fans love to root for. He is the soul of this team, so his success can be seen as a mirror of the overall team's success. As he approaches his fourth postseason with New York, Hart can cement himself as a Knicks figure or be left as a comedic footnote in the history of the franchise.
