Josh Hart made New York Knicks history on Tuesday night, recording his ninth triple-double of the season to break a 56-year-old franchise record. But in classic Hart fashion, his biggest play of the night didn’t come on the court—it came when he handed the game ball to rookie Kevin McCullar Jr., who had just scored his first NBA points.
The Knicks secured a 128-113 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, with Hart posting 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists to surpass Walt “Clyde” Frazier’s 1969 record. Yet, for Hart, the moment was bigger than his own milestone.
Hart’s unselfishness mirrors the way he plays the game. He had zero triple-doubles in his first six NBA seasons with the Lakers, Pelicans, and Trail Blazers. Since joining the Knicks, however, he has become a stat-sheet machine, notching 15 triple-doubles over the past two seasons—matching LeBron James and trailing only Nikola Jokic, Domantas Sabonis, Luka Doncic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“The way he does it is special,” said Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns. “It’s all energy and effort and for the betterment of the team.”
Towns, who also had a triple-double with 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists, joined Hart in making franchise history. The two became the first Knicks teammates to record triple-doubles in the same game.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau called it a “great accomplishment” and praised both players for their impact.
For Towns, the historic night was made even better by the win, which improved the Knicks to 45-26.