Josh Hart has made it clear that he sees his long-term future with the New York Knicks, especially now that he has become eligible for a potentially lucrative contract extension worth as much as four years and $132 million. Hart is currently entering the final guaranteed year of the four-year, $80 million contract he previously signed, although his deal also includes a $22 million team option for the 2027–28 season.
In a brief interview with Yahoo Sports’ Caroline Fenton, Hart openly expressed his desire to remain with the Knicks for the rest of his playing career. When asked whether he would like to continue playing in New York, Hart gave an emphatic response, explaining that the city has become like home to him and that his time with the franchise has produced some of the best moments and years of his professional career. Because of his strong connection with the organization and the city, he hopes to stay with the Knicks and eventually retire as a member of the team.
Although Hart is technically eligible to sign a much larger extension, the financial situation of the Knicks could make negotiations more complicated. The organization is reportedly focused on keeping its championship-winning core together for the long term. To accomplish that goal while avoiding the financial restrictions associated with the NBA’s second salary-cap apron, the Knicks may need some of their key players to accept contracts that are more team-friendly than their maximum market value.
For Hart, this could mean agreeing to an extension worth approximately $60 million to $62 million over three years. Such a deal would allow him to continue earning roughly $20 million per season while giving the Knicks additional financial flexibility to retain other important members of the roster. If he were to accept an extension in that range, his total career earnings would still rise to more than $180 million.
However, this situation presents Hart with an important personal and professional decision. He must determine whether the security of signing a new deal and remaining with a championship-contending team is more valuable to him than pursuing the highest possible salary available on the open market. Based on his production and overall importance to the Knicks, there is a strong argument that Hart deserves more than $20 million annually.
During the 2025–26 season, including the playoffs, Hart averaged 11.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. He also shot an efficient 49.1% from the field and 39.0% from three-point range. While those statistics alone may not completely demonstrate his value, they highlight his versatility and ability to contribute in several different areas of the game.
Hart’s importance is even more impressive when considering his role within New York’s offense. He is often the fifth offensive option behind Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, and OG Anunoby. Despite not being the team’s primary scorer, he consistently finds ways to impact games through rebounding, playmaking, defense, energy, hustle, and his willingness to perform whatever role the team needs. In many ways, he serves as the glue that helps hold the Knicks together.
Some observers believe Hart’s true market value is considerably higher than the proposed team-friendly extension. According to reporting from The Athletic, a contract between $70 million and $80 million may more accurately reflect the value he provides. Nevertheless, given where Hart is in his career and the Knicks’ current championship ambitions, there is an argument that preserving the team’s core and maintaining a realistic opportunity to win more titles could be more important than maximizing his individual earnings.
Regardless of what Hart ultimately decides, his legacy in New York appears secure. Knicks fans would likely understand if he chose to explore free agency and pursue the best possible financial offer. At the same time, his public comments strongly suggest that he genuinely wants to remain with the franchise and may be willing to make a financial sacrifice to help the organization keep its championship-caliber roster together.
Such a decision would be similar to the sacrifice associated with Jalen Brunson, whose willingness to accept less money became a major talking point in the effort to build a stronger Knicks team. If Hart were to accept a significantly smaller contract than he could potentially earn elsewhere and the Knicks went on to win another NBA championship, that sacrifice could become an important part of his legacy. Ultimately, the expectation is that Hart will prioritize staying in New York over testing free agency and could soon agree to a contract extension that benefits both him and the Knicks.
