By Mallory Mattingly
New York Knicks guard Josh Hart put his faith on full display as he prayed on the bench in Madison Square Garden.
A photo he posted on Instagram shows the athlete with his head bowed and his hands open.
The guard referenced Joshua 24:15 in the caption: “For me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
The “Follower of Christ” also relied on his faith in 2024 when the Knicks reached the playoffs.
Related: Knicks Guard Focused on Faith as Team Approaches Eastern Conference Finals
“My Lord works in mysterious ways. Today, I felt like I didn’t have it at all. The whole game I was reciting Isaiah 40:29. The weak he renews strength. That was the biggest thing. He allows you to walk and not faint,” Hart said in 2024 after the Knicks played the Indiana Pacers.
The Knicks took a 2-0 lead last week in the Eastern Conference Finals as they beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-93.
As the Cavaliers double-teamed point guard Jalen Brunson, Hart stepped up and took control of the game in the second half.
He scored a “new career high with a team-high 26 points on 10-of-21 shooting, including 5-of-11 from three-point range. He also got on the board with seven assists, four rebounds and two steals,” according to Fox News Digital.
However, Hart had to persevere through frustration at the start of the game as he missed his first three attempts. He regained his composure and eventually found his rhythm in the second half.
“I was kind of frustrated, I’ve been putting in the reps,” he told the media, per ESPN. “It’s not translating right now. I just knew I would keep shooting and if I did that, I would be good.”
Hart has become a go-to player for the Knicks over the last several years and plays with “joy and grace.”
“I try to play with more joy or more grace,” Hart revealed. “I don’t really celebrate when I score or make a good pass or stuff like that, and I kick myself probably a little bit too much when I miss shots or make turnovers, so I’ve had to learn grace and not try to be perfect.”
Head coach Mike Brown trusts that no matter the situation the team is in, Hart can fight and push through adversity to get a win for the Knicks.
“It’s just who Josh is. He’s a gamer. He knew what he had to do in terms of adjustments he needed to make in order to be effective,” Brown shared. “He was great, he was decisive. We have to play fast, so we’re not going against a set defense all the time.”
As Hart heads to the NBA Finals, he will continue to rely on his faith.
Read Next: NY Knicks Guard Josh Hart Leans on Faith Amid Tough Playoff Stretch
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