New York Knicks forward Josh Hart delivered a brutally honest and slightly mocking response when asked about his controversial defensive play on Tim Hardaway Jr.
The play, which happened in the closing moments of Game 4 against the Detroit Pistons, has sparked heated debate across NBA circles.
That moment saw Hart make significant contact with Hardaway Jr. during a potential game-tying shot attempt—with no whistle from the officials.
‘It’s only a foul if the ref blows the whistle‘ – Hart’s unapologetic take
When questioned about the controversial sequence, Josh Hart offered a refreshingly candid assessment that managed to both acknowledge and dismiss the controversy.
“I would say ‘hell yeah I fouled him’, but it’s only a foul if the ref blows the whistle,” Hart admitted with a smirk.
“He didn’t blow the whistle so nah I barely touched him. I didn’t foul him! It was not a foul because it wasn’t called.”
Hart’s playful response highlighted the age-old basketball truth—it’s ultimately the officials who determine what constitutes a foul, regardless of the actual contact.
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesHart accuses Pistons of hypocrisy on ‘foul-baiting‘
The Knicks defender didn’t stop there, turning the tables on the Pistons by calling out what he perceived as hypocrisy in their approach to drawing fouls.
“Honestly I think if he just shot the ball, who knows what could have happened, if he just tried to shoot,” Hart explained.
“He kind of shot faked, he was being very unethical. The whole series Detroit was on JB about foul-baiting, and then decided the most important time in Game 4, you know what, let’s try this foul-baiting thing out, and it didn’t work, and it went mad.”
Jalen Brunson, the teammate Hart mentioned, has been the subject of criticism from NBA fans of players who often try to draw fouls, the same as players like Luka Doncic or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
No hard feelings – just playoff basketball
Despite the controversy, Hart acknowledged Hardaway Jr.’s overall performance in the series while maintaining his position on the crucial play.
“He played well, he battled the whole series, I just think if he shot it regular, I wasn’t going to be able to contest it if he shot it regular the foul would have been called.”
In the end, however, this particular play played a role in the Knicks’ success in beating the Pistons in six games.
And as the Knicks prepare for their next playoff challenge, Hart’s unfiltered comments add another layer to an already intense postseason rivalry between these Eastern Conference foes.