New York Knicks wing Josh Hart knows he’s been getting too many technical fouls. Instead of complaining about it, Hart sought out an official to see how he can handle things differently in their interactions. Hart, who said he no longer curses at officials, wanted to know why he’s still getting hit with technical fouls.
“Some of the techs I got, I haven’t even cursed so I kind of been surprised by them,” Hart told The New York Post. “So I’m not going to say what ref but I asked him, ‘Do I have a bad reputation? Or what? Man-to-man, let me know. Because I’m trying to work on it.'”
Hart said the official was complimentary of his play, while explaining how he can handle himself when talking to the refs.
“And he was just like, ‘No, you’re an amazing competitor. But sometimes in the heat of competition, it’s like you’re against us, too. Like you look at it 8 on 5.’ Which I do sometimes,” Hart said the official told him. “So I think my complaining and getting techs hurts us. We’re giving them free points or the ball or whatever it is and those kind of things.”
Hart said it’s something he has to be “more cognizant of and work on” as the season goes along.