MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 22: Josh Hart #3 and Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks speak on the court during the second quarter of the game against the Miami Heat at Miami-Dade Arena on March 22, 2023 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Knicks fans will get to watch Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart play this offseason
If Jalen Brunson thought he was going to get a break from Josh Hart this offseason, he thought wrong. The New York Knicks have two players that will represent the United States at the 2023 FIBA World Cup — Brunson and Hart.
Brunson was named to the roster in early June, while Hart was the last player to secure his spot in early July. The Knicks and Nets are the only teams in the NBA to each have two players on the Team USA roster.
Much to Hart’s delight, he and Brunson will get to reunite with former Villanova teammate Mikal Bridges. After it was reported that Donte DiVincenzo had agreed to sign a four-year, $50 million deal with New York in free agency, Hart took to Twitter to recruit Bridges to the Knicks. Sean Marks and the Nets would never trade their young star to their biggest rival, but at least the trio will get to play together this summer.
Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart will represent Knicks and Team USA at FIBA World Cup
Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and the other 10 players will look to finish better than Team USA did at the 2019 FIBA World Cup. That team finished in seventh place, the lowest placement in history. This year’s roster is pretty solid, so fans shouldn’t have to worry about a similar outcome happening.
Knicks fans will still have to wait a while to see Brunson and Hart in action. Training camp will begin on August 3 and Team USA (Group C) will play its first game on August 26 against New Zealand, which has no active NBA players on its roster.
It’s important to note that Hart will be eligible to sign an extension with New York on August 9 after he exercised his $12.96 million player option for 2023-24. While it was already expected that the Knicks would extend Hart to a deal that can be worth up to four years, $81 million, his participation in the FIBA World Cup essentially guarantees that he’s going to sign an extension.
New York fans will get to celebrate the extension of one of their favorite players by watching him and Jalen Brunson in action.
