Josh Hart made it clear in the opening days of training camp that he had hoped him and the Knicks would be able to come to terms on a new contract extension before the start of the season.
With no new deal in place and the team now saying they’ll be tabling those discussions until later in the year, though, the dynamic power forward isn’t stressing.
“Not looking too much into it,” Hart said Saturday. “Obviously we have high expectations, so it’s good there we’re able to just focus on the season and just keep things moving.”
The veteran said that’s exactly where his main focus is heading into the year, despite voicing past concerns over his uncertain future serving as a potential distraction.
“At the end of the day I’m still under contract in New York,” Hart emphasized. “We have a hell of a team that’s trying to repeat, I’m in an amazing situation, so it’s not frustrating at all.
“Obviously you want to get some of those things done but if it doesn’t, it’s nothing where you lose sleep over — we’re blessed to be out here playing basketball for a living, so you just have to block out the noise and keep moving.”
Hart is set to earn $20.9 million this season, and he has a team option for next year.
The high-energy do-it-all power forward is expected to play a significant role for New York once again, particularly on the glass with the loss of big man Mitchell Robinson to the Celtics in free agency.
Hart was massive in that area during the Knicks’ drought-snapping title run, and he’s averaged just over eight rebounds per game during his three-plus years with the team.