Knicks Sparkplug Josh Hart Makes NBA History with Jaw-Dropping Rebounding Run — Fans, Analysts Stunned

The New York Knicks may have stumbled out of the gate this season, but guard-forward Josh Hart has turned their momentum around by reclaiming a starting role and posting historic rebounding numbers that few guards in NBA history can match. Over the last four games—each a New York win—the 6-foot-5 energizer is averaging 12.0 boards, 7.0 assists and 18.3 points while logging a team-high 35.4 minutes. Head coach Mike Brown, who experimented with bringing Hart off the bench in October, publicly admitted the move “wasn’t the right thing to do” after watching Hart rack up 20 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists against Toronto on Sunday. Elite rebounding that drives wins • Hart leads all NBA guards in total rebound percentage this season and sits in the 99th percentile among wings, per Cleaning the Glass data. • Since New York acquired him, the Knicks are 122-51 when he starts and a scorching 23-11 when he records a double-double. • His rebounding prowess translates to playoff success; the Knicks went 7-2 last spring when Hart grabbed 10+ boards. Why the starting switch matters Brown’s uptempo “pace-and-space” scheme relies on quick outlet passes and early offense. Few guards initiate transition better than Hart, who often snatches a defensive rebound and sprints coast-to-coast. With Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges filling the lanes and Karl-Anthony Towns trailing for threes, Hart’s one-man fast breaks have vaulted New York to league-best 40-point quarters in three of the past five contests. Brown acknowledged that shorter bench stints “hid” Hart’s impact; extended minutes now let him dictate pace, crash the offensive glass (5 O-boards vs. Toronto) and serve as a tertiary creator. Stat lines turning heads • Season averages since re-entering the first five: 14.2 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 6.8 APG, 1.8 SPG on 51 % shooting. • Sixth-highest career rebounds per game by a guard in NBA history—only Luka Dončić, Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson, Jerry Sloan and Tom Gola sit above him. Upcoming spotlight games New York rides a four-game surge into Boston tonight, where Hart will be tasked with limiting Jaylen Brown on the glass and in transition. Two Atlantic Division showdowns (vs. Charlotte, vs. Orlando) and an NBA Cup quarterfinal at Toronto follow; Hart has already joked that lifting the Cup’s $500K prize money would help “replace those stolen watches,” a nod to the $185K burglary he endured in September. What it means for the Knicks’ ceiling 1. Second-chance points: New York ranks top-five in offensive rebound rate during Hart’s current starting stretch. 2. Defensive versatility: His ability to guard 1-through-4 allows Brown to keep Bridges and OG Anunoby (due back mid-December) fresh for marquee scorers late. 3. Playmaking relief: Hart’s 7.0 assists per start let Brunson hunt his own shot more aggressively, boosting his MVP chatter. SEO takeaway If Josh Hart continues to pull double-digit rebounds and push triple-double threats, the “Hart Hustle” could be the keyword Knicks fans and fantasy managers search most this winter. For Brown, the calculus is simple: Hart starts, Knicks win—history, and the standings, prove it.