Josh Hart turns down surgery that would end his NBA career
Knicks guard Josh Hart has declined a joint-replacement surgery for his injured finger because it would prevent him from continuing to play basketball. The 31-year-old has decided to live with the chronic injury for the rest of his career.
New York Knicks guard Josh Hart, 31, has announced he will not undergo a surgery that could fix his long-standing finger injury, because the procedure would end his ability to keep playing professionally.
Hart's finger trouble began during the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals series against the Indiana Pacers. He had surgery after that series, but the injury recurred the following summer during a team practice. He played all of last season with a special wrap on the finger, and the original plan called for a follow-up surgery after the season. This summer, however, doctors determined that a full joint replacement would be necessary.
Choosing to keep playing
Hart explained that a joint replacement would effectively end his career, since his body would no longer be able to withstand the physical demands of basketball afterward. As a result, he has decided to live with the injury for the rest of his playing days, continuing to protect the finger with a wrap during games. He joked that his options now are either to keep wrapping it until his career ends, or to cut it off.
Despite the ongoing discomfort, last season was one of Hart's best shooting seasons, as he set a career-high three-point percentage of 41%. That same season, he also became an NBA champion with the Knicks.
