New York Knicks guard Josh Hart. Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Knicks star responds to Pacers HC's inflaming comments

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 5/10/24

Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle believes the NBA is giving the large-market New York Knicks favorable calls in its second-round series.

Knicks star Josh Hart made his opinion of Carlisle's comments clear on Friday ahead of Game 3. Hart also delivered a brutal truth that New York fans did not need a reminder just to drive his point home.

"That's so stupid, bro," Hart began. "You're going to say the big market always wins? The Knicks haven't won a [championship] in 51 years, so obviously that doesn't hold much weight. I don't fully understand that. Sorry, New York, for the reminder. It's idiotic. At the end of the day, it's who is playing the best. I've never seen a ref shoot a free throw, or make a three or miss a rotation."

Josh Hart, who has played in New Orleans and Portland in addition to Los Angeles and New York, on if he's ever felt while playing for a small market team that he was at a disadvantage:

"F--- no, that's so stupid bro. You're going to say the big market always wins? The Knicks… pic.twitter.com/bN4JryPvUh
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 10, 2024

Hart was asked the question given his prior experiences playing in New Orleans and Portland and did not see any validity in Carlisle's argument.

The Pacers reportedly submitted 78 complaints of calls and missed calls to the NBA after their Game 2 loss, which does seem a little excessive.

The unfortunate reality for Indiana is that New York simply looks like the better team right now, even as they play through some pretty significant injuries.

Come playoff time, everybody thinks the league is out to get their team, but if the NBA were really on a mission to boost the Knicks, they would probably have gotten closer to a championship over the last 51 years. Not only have they not won a championship in over five decades, but it has been almost 25 years since they even appeared in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Pacers simply need to play better, while Carlisle might need to consider a bigger role for T.J. McConnell, the one player who has managed to give Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson some issues in the series.

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