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Josh Hart Makes Statement Before Knicks-Celtics Series

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By JH Kubicek | Last updated May 4, 2025 3:24 PM ET

After beating the upstart Detroit Pistons in six games to start their playoff march, the New York Knicks will have to take on the defending champion Boston Celtics, who are one of the favorites to win the Finals.

New York went winless against Boston in the regular season, and some experts seem to think the Knicks are more likely to get swept than win the series.

With the general consensus in the NBA world being that the Knicks' season is all but over, Josh Hart sent a message to fans and any doubters.

Sometimes, being the underdog has its advantages.

"I don't care what if we're counted out already, then we should play with a great level of freedom," Hart said to the media. "That's about it. We don't really care too much what the outside world said. We'll focus on how we feel internally and go about it that way."

New York doesn't have much to prove. Entering the season, the Celtics were the title favorites and, despite being the second seed, are still expected to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers and win the Eastern Conference.

With minimal expectations, the Knicks can play their brand of basketball, although rabid fans in New York might not be thrilled to hear Hart say that he doesn't care, as it's still title-or-bust for Spike Lee and the rest of the fanbase.

The Knicks have limited flexibility moving forward and are married to their current roster.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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