Josh Hart ends 4-year, $81 million extension with the Knicks

Josh Hart is finalizing a four-year, $81 million contract extension with the New York Knicks, agents Aaron Mintz, Dave Spahn and Stephen Human of CAA Sports told ESPN on Wednesday.

The two parties are working on the final details on Wednesday, and once it’s fully completed, Hart will continue his involvement with Team USA on their way to the FIBA ​​World Cup.

The Hart deal – which he became eligible to sign Thursday – will hand him a total of $94 million during the 2027-2028 season. $81 million is the maximum Hart can sign and is a 140% cut to his $12.96 million contract in 2023-24. He will earn $18.1 million in the 2024-25 season.

Once Hart secured his $12.9 million player option for the 2023-2024 season in June, the Knicks were able to use the full mid-level exception in free agency — which landed Hart’s former Villanova teammate Donte DiVincenzo to a new four-year deal.

Hart landed the Knicks on a final trade with the Portland Trail Blazers in February and had a huge impact on the franchise’s advancement to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Hart is currently playing for Team USA as they prepare for the FIBA ​​World Cup in the Philippines this month.

Hart shot 58% total and 52% from 3-point range in 25 regular season games for the Knicks, partnering with Emmanuel Kwikley to become one of the most influential second units in the league. Hart has developed into one of the most capable small rebounds in the NBA and has shown the ability to protect multiple positions. A good softer and finisher at the edge, his slick New York shooting was the missing piece to complete an all-out offensive game.

The Knicks are the fourth team in Hart’s six-year NBA career, which began with the Los Angeles Lakers drafting him with the 30th pick in the first round of 2017 and eventually including him in an Anthony Davis trade to New Orleans in 2019.

Hart was part of Villanova’s 2016 NCAA Tournament team with fellow Team USA and Knicks teammate Jalen Bronson and DiVincenzo and was named MVP of the Mideast.