In a memorable night at Madison Square Garden, Josh Hart made New York Knicks history, breaking a longstanding franchise record. Hart achieved his 10th triple-double of the season, surpassing the previous record of nine set by the legendary Walt “Clyde” Frazier in 1969. His impressive performance of 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists contributed significantly to the Knicks’ 128-113 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
Despite the personal milestone, Hart’s thoughts were with his teammate Kevin McCullar Jr., to whom he gifted the game ball. McCullar, appearing in his first NBA game after recovering from a knee injury, scored his first NBA basket, a moment Hart deemed invaluable. “Breaking records is great,” Hart reflected, “but scoring your first NBA points means everything. That memory can never be taken away, whereas records are eventually broken.”
This season marks a turnaround for Hart, who played for the Lakers, Pelicans, and Trail Blazers over his initial six NBA seasons without achieving a triple-double. Now a pivotal player for New York, he has become a consistent performer, tallying 15 triple-doubles in the last two years—a feat matched only by elite players like LeBron James and surpassed by just a few.
Hart’s dynamic contributions are celebrated by the team. Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns praised Hart’s relentless energy and selfless play. “Josh impacts the game in numerous ways, many of which don’t appear on the stat sheet,” Towns noted. “He deserves recognition for the visible and invisible work he does to make our team successful.”
The night was special not just for Hart but for Towns as well. Both players achieved triple-doubles, making them the first pair in the Knicks’ 79-year history to do so in the same game. Towns finished his performance with 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists, his first triple-double since early 2022 when he played for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Coach Tom Thibodeau praised both men for their exemplary efforts. “Having both Josh and Karl achieve triple-doubles in one game showcases the exceptional teamwork and synergy we have,” he said. This synergy was evident in Towns’ play-making, as he collected six assists in just the first quarter and reached a season-high by halftime.
Hart reminisced about a similar moment in 2018 when he witnessed LeBron James and Lonzo Ball, then his Lakers teammates, accomplish dual triple-doubles in a single game. Experiencing this feat again in New York was gratifying for him: “To be part of NBA history twice is surreal.”
Ultimately, both Hart and Towns found their achievements secondary to the team’s success. Towns emphasized the importance of securing the win over personal accolades, as the Knicks advanced to a 45-26 record. “The city of New York values victories. Winning alongside breaking records makes this achievement even sweeter,” Towns concluded.