Josh Hart announced on Thursday that he will not undergo surgery on his right ring finger, opting instead to continue playing through pain for the remainder of his career. Doctors had previously informed Hart that he would require a joint replacement, a procedure that would end his NBA career.
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The injury, which forced Hart, a wing for the New York Knicks, to wear a splint throughout the 2025-26 season, necessitates a full joint replacement, which Hart stated would limit his playing abilities. "You can’t have the banging, repetitive [motion]," he explained, describing how essential actions like rebounding and shooting would be impossible post-surgery.
At 31 years old and coming off an NBA championship, Hart remains committed to his playing career. He will continue to protect his injured finger as he did last season, using a splint or wrapping during games. Hart sustained the injury during the 2025 Eastern Conference finals against the Indiana Pacers, and although he underwent offseason surgery, he aggravated the injury during a scrimmage.
Initially, Hart had planned to wear protective gear throughout the 2025-26 season and then pursue corrective surgery afterward. However, he was informed this summer that joint replacement surgery would prevent him from playing again. "I guess it’s either wrap it till I retire or cut it off," he remarked on his limited options.
Visually, Hart’s finger appears misshapen, with misaligned bones. Knicks head coach Mike Brown humorously remarked on the finger's appearance, saying, "But that finger is uggglyyy."
The injury has caused significant discomfort; Hart noted that there have been times when his hand felt numb and that the pain varied day by day. Despite these challenges, he had the best shooting season of his career in 2025-26, hitting a career-high 41 percent of his 3-point attempts and achieving record effective field-goal percentage while playing with a deteriorating joint.
Hart mentioned that he plans to undergo the joint replacement surgery after he retires in hopes of straightening out his finger. He is currently eligible for an extension with the Knicks, but he expressed doubts that the deal would materialize. Hart is scheduled to earn $43.3 million over the next two seasons, including a team option for the 2027-28 season.