Knicks' Mike Brown compares Josh Hart to NBA Finals MVP after Game 2 win over Cavaliers

Guard Josh Hart played the role of hero as he scored a game-high 26 points to help the New York Knicks earn an impressive 109-93 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night that propelled the Knicks to a 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Following the victory, Knicks head coach Mike Brown compared Hart to former Golden State Warriors star Andre Iguodala.

Josh Hart has an 'edge' similar to Andre Iguodala

"They’re different players, but they’re similar players because Andre is edgy too," Brown said while speaking about Hart, per Robert Sanchez of SNY. "And Andre is a hell of a player, and he does so many little things that if you’re not careful, you won’t appreciate them. It’s the same with Josh."

Brown was Steve Kerr's lead assistant with the Warriors from the summer of 2016 through the 2022 NBA Finals. Thus, Brown saw plenty of Iguodala on the court and behind the scenes after Iguodala earned NBA Finals MVP Award honors in the spring of 2015.

Hart's edge and fire can sometimes get him into some avoidable trouble during games, and that was nearly the case on more than one occasion during Thursday's victory. Nevertheless, Brown seemingly doesn't plan to reel Hart in anytime soon. 

"Because he’s so impactful as a connector," Brown continued during his comments about Hart, "I gotta give him probably more leash than anybody else. I gotta let him go be him and get out of his way. And that’s hard sometimes as a coach because you’re looking at X’s and O’s and you want everything to be perfect and you’re looking at the box score and you’re looking at this and with Josh and with Andre, all that s— should be thrown out the window because those dudes are winners."

Josh Hart responds to Andre Iguodala comparison

The Cavaliers held Jalen Brunson to just 19 points on a night that featured the Knicks captain never truly getting hot as a shooter. That said, Hart went 5-for-11 from three-point range and also contributed seven assists, four rebounds and two steals in the Game 2 win. He ended the evening with a plus/minus rating of +18.

"Iggy was a hell of a player," Hart said about Brown's comments. "I don’t know if I’m at that level, but I just try and go out there and play my game." 

The Cavaliers seemingly had no answer for the version of Hart who energized the Madison Square Garden crowd throughout Thursday's win. Game 3 of the series will take place in Cleveland on Saturday night.