Knicks forward Josh Hart believes criticism of his friend and teammate, Mikal Bridges, who is struggling to find his scoring rhythm in Mike Brown’s new offense, is unfair.

“He’s been doing what’s been asked of him,” Hart told reporters on Sunday as the Knicks blew out the Washington Wizards. “Last year, he didn’t have many plays called for him. This year, he probably has even less plays called for him. So obviously, there’s a mental hurdle he needs to get through, and that’s something where some of us can help him.

“I think he gets some of that unfair flak just because he’s doing what’s asked of him. And if we were to sit there and say, go shoot 15 shots a game, he would be efficient and he could do it. But that’s not what’s been asked of him.”

Bridges scored 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field to go with six assists in the Knicks’ 145-113 rout of the Washington Wizards on Sunday. The performance marked his first game with more than 11 points since March 4.

But he is averaging just 14.7 points per game on the season and has been prone to hot starts that eventually dissipate as games progress. The scoring is his lowest mark since his fourth NBA season.

It’s not the kind of trend a team that traded five first-round picks for his services expected, especially with just a handful of games left on the schedule before the playoffs begin in mid-April.

Hart said there are ways he can help Bridges break free from his scoring slump.

“Try to make sure to get him involved a little bit more, get him the ball when he’s running in transition, get him in position to be successful,” he said. “He’s been doing what’s been asked of him.”

Hart is right. The Knicks have asked Bridges, most nights, to defend the opposing team’s most dynamic perimeter scorer. They are also asking him to space the floor and be aggressive within the confines of the new offense.

Bridges’ shot attempts and minutes are down, too: From 18.6 shots a game with the Nets to 14.4 under Thibodeau and now 12.1 under Brown. From a 20-point per game threat in Brooklyn to 17.6 last season and less than 15 a night this year. And after leading the NBA in minutes last season (and the season prior), Bridges is playing just 33.3 minutes a night, his fewest since the 2020-21 season.

Brown believes Bridges will ultimately bounce back from his prolonged shooting slump.

“He’s shown time after time that he’s a high-level player. And he’s done it,” he said. “I’ve been around many players who have gone through their ups and downs throughout the course of the season.

“And he works at it very hard. And he cares at a high level. Usually when you have that combination from a veteran guy that’s produced the way he’s produced in the NBA, it tends to lead to good results, eventually.”