Josh Hart says he is forgoing career
New York Knicks player Josh Hart has decided against undergoing a career-ending full joint replacement surgery on his right ring finger. Instead, he will play through the pain for the remainder of his career, continuing to wear a protective splint or wrap.
Why it matters
This decision underscores the immense physical toll on professional athletes and the difficult choices they face regarding their long-term health versus their careers. It also impacts the Knicks' roster stability and future planning, as Hart commits to playing despite a severe injury.
Editor’s Note:
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TARRYTOWN, N.Y. — Josh Hart will not undergo previously expected surgery on his right ring finger. Instead, he will play through the pain for the rest of his career, he said Thursday.
The injury that forced the New York Knicks wing to play with a splint for all of the 2025-26 season now requires a “full joint replacement,” an operation that would end his NBA career, Hart explained.
“You can’t have the banging, repetitive (motion),” Hart said after a team practice. “Grabbing a rebound, palming it, shooting, catching the ball, doing all that: You can’t do that. So, if I did a joint replacement, then I wouldn’t be able to play.”
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