With 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists during Tuesday night’s 123-113 win over the Dallas Mavericks, Josh Hart broke the New York Knicks’ franchise record for most triple-doubles recorded in a single season with nine.
It broke the previous record set by Hall-of-Famer Walt Frazier, who recorded eight in 1969.
“It’s a blessing,” Hart said. “I’ve got a great, high-character group of guys. It means I’ve played at least nine good games so far.”
The 30-year-old, eight-year vet has hit a new gear since joining the Knicks last season, recording 15 triple-doubles over the last two years. Only Nikola Jokic, Domantas Sabonis, Luka Doncic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo have had more during that span.
He never recorded a triple-double in his first six seasons in the league while with the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Portland Trail Blazers.
“The way he does it is special,” star center Karl-Anthony Towns said. “It’s all energy and effort and for the betterment of the team. I’m just happy that Josh gets stats on the sheet that shows the impact he’s making on the game because I feel there’s much more stats that don’t show up on the stat sheet that he does for our team.
“So I’m happy he’s having this moment where the effort, the sacrifice he puts in for our team to be the best version of ourselves is showing up on the stat sheet.”
Towns got in on the history-making night, himself, when he posted a triple-double of his own with 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists. It was the first time in Knicks franchise history (79 years) that two players had a triple-double in the same game.
“[Hart] breaking the record was a great accomplishment,” Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said. “To have [Towns] do it as well, that’s pretty special.”
“For me, that’s an easy decision,” Hart said. “That record is cool and a blessing, but that record is going to get broken at some point, hopefully later rather than sooner. But getting your first NBA points, no one can take that away from you. It’s important he got the game ball for that, and that’s an easy decision for me.”
