Knicks’ Josh Hart Changed into once ‘a Little Bummed’ 76ers Passed on Him in 2017 NBA Draft
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE by job of Getty Photos
The Unusual York Knicks are reaping the advantages of having Josh Hart on their roster, but the broken-down Villanova principal person admitted there changed into once a time when he wished to play for the team they’re for the time being beating within the NBA playoffs.
Talking to reporters on Thursday, Hart stated he felt “a minute bit bummed out” the Philadelphia 76ers handed on him with the 25th reveal within the 2017 NBA draft.
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The Sixers handed on the overall Villanova champions within the draft. Josh Hart stated at present he changed into once “bummed” they didn’t take him with the 25th reveal (he went 30th to the Lakers):
“I wished to streak right here. They had been at 25. They did a draft-and-stash, some European guy that I will’t enlighten…
No team had a higher alternative to scout the Villanova teams that won nationwide titles in 2015-16 and 2017-18 than the Sixers. The Wildcats are primarily based in a Philadelphia suburb and play predominant home games all over the normal season at Wells Fargo Center, home of the 76ers.
Hart wasn’t on that 2nd title team, but his fellow Knicks teammates Jalen Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo had been. He changed into once named Immense East Player of the 300 and sixty five days and a consensus All-American first-team possibility all over his final season at faculty in 2016-17.
The Maryland native changed into once firstly selected with the final reveal of the principle round within the 2017 draft by the Utah Jazz, who traded his rights to the Los Angeles Lakers. He bounced around the league with stints on the Unusual Orleans Pelicans and Portland Mosey Blazers sooner than getting traded to Unusual York in February 2023.
Anžejs Pasečņiks changed into once drafted at No. 25 by the Orlando Magic, who traded his rights to the Sixers. They renounced his draft rights two years later and he wound up signing with the Washington Wizards, but handiest performed in 28 NBA games sooner than being waived in January 2021.
Hart is averaging 21.5 aspects on 53.3 p.c three-point shooting, 14.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals within the principle two games of the Knicks’ playoff series against the 76ers.
Unusual York owns a 2-0 series lead over the Sixers going into Friday’s game at Wells Fargo Center.
