The secret Knicks meeting that kept their season on track
Josh Hart revealed news of a meeting with Mike Brown that has kept the Knicks’ season on track.
The New York Knicks are one step away from glory, having reached the final of the NBA Cup.
Their continued progress has surprised many, especially after the Tom Thibodeau saga last season, but the true turning point might have come not from a buzzer-beater or strategic detail, but from a secret dialogue between coach and player.
Early in the season, as New York struggled to find consistency, head coach Mike Brown and veteran wing Josh Hart faced a crossroads that ultimately helped reenergise the season.
Hart began the season in a reduced role, coming off the bench with limited minutes under Brown’s new system, which emphasised spacing and ball movement. As the questionable performances mounted, so did questions about the fit between Hart’s tenacious style and Brown’s evolving offensive vision.
"He's a special player, but he's also a great human being to be around"
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) December 1, 2025
Mike Brown talks about Josh Hart's contributions to the Knicks: pic.twitter.com/v0kz0U9QRf
“It was a blessing in disguise, I was open and honest”
After being benched in the fourth quarter multiple times, Hart and Brown agreed to sit down for a candid conversation about expectations, roles, and leadership.
“It was a blessing in disguise,” coach Brown told ESPN. “I was open and honest. He hadn’t played a lot in the preseason because he got hurt early on, so I didn’t have a great feel for how to use him, when to use him, what his game was completely like.”
“[Hart said] I’m one of the leaders on this team, I can’t think of myself in this situation. I have to let the process unfold.”
The result was swift and noticeable. Brown reinstated the 6-foot-5 guard into the starting lineup, leaning into his versatility on both ends of the floor. From that point, the Knicks caught fire, winning nine of ten games that followed and reasserting themselves as contenders in the Eastern Conference.
Jalen Brunson on his relationship with Josh Hart:
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) December 16, 2025
"Unfortunately me and Josh talk every day. Everyone thinks it's all jokes and laughter, there's time we have serious talks. He's one of the biggest competitors I've ever met" pic.twitter.com/iYHKhAENMQ
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Hart has been fully weaved into the Knicks’ system and has been key in their NBA Cup success, averaging 16 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.1 steals in 35 minutes a night.
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