Knicks' Josh Hart Explains Why Joint Replacement Surgery on Finger Injury Would End NBA Career

New York Knicks star Josh Hart expanded Thursday on his statement that he has no other option than to play with a wrapped ring finger on his right hand until he retires from the NBA.

"The only option for my finger at this point, because of how damaged it is, is a full joint replacement, and with a joint replacement... grabbing a rebound, palming it, shooting it, catching the ball, doing it all, you can't do that," Hart told reporters Thursday (h/t SNY). "So, if I did a joint replacement, then I wouldn't be able to play. So I guess it's either wrap it 'til I retire or cut it off, I guess that's the other option."

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Hart added the pain level of the impacted finger, which is visibly crooked, varies from day to day.

"Some days it'll be good, some days it'll hurt to catch the ball... Some days it's good, and it's just like a regular functioning finger. Other days it hurts to just close my hand," Hart said.

Hart's interview followed a Tuesday social media post in which he said his finger would be "wrapped until I retire."

He added Thursday he plans to undergo joint replacement surgery following his eventual retirement from the NBA.

Hart dislocated his finger during Game 6 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers in July 2025. He underwent surgery on the injury later that month.

He said in September he had re-injured the finger during training camp and now expected to wear a splint until he could "try to fix it again next summer," per the AP .

Hart's injury didn't stop him from shooting 41.3 percent from behind the arc during the regular season before firing 32.6 percent from deep during the Knicks' run to the 2026 title.

Knicks coach Mike Brown said he was impressed by Hart's toughness but not by the aesthetics of the injured finger.

"Josh is a handsome young man, but that finger is ugly," Brown said (h/t Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News) . "It adds to his toughness. I can't even imagine having a finger like that."

Hart himself admitted , "It's not the prettiest to look at. I would love to have a straight finger. But it works."

The Knicks will hope Hart's eventual joint replacement surgery won't be coming in the immediate future. The 31-year-old is signed through this season with a team option for 2027-28, and he's a key part of the Knicks' hopes of running things back with the majority of last season's title-winning roster.

That push will start Oct. 20 when the Knicks tip off the season with a game against LeBron James and the visiting Philadelphia 76ers.