Knicks Media Roundup: Hart Surgery, Cap Math, and Deuce Drops a Book

Fingers, finances, and friendship, aggregated for your pleasure.

From surgical updates to salary cap squeezes to storytime with Deuce, things are happening for the Knicks both on and off the court. Here’s a quick roundup of the recent news.

Josh Hart Undergoes Finger Surgery

Josh Hart underwent a minor procedure on his right ring finger this week to address an injury from the Knicks’ playoff run. The team expects him back later this summer, with no impact on his availability for the 2025–26 season.

That’s good news. Hart remains one of New York’s most indispensable players. He’s the Knicks’ ironman and Swiss Army knife who guarded multiple positions, crashed the boards, and contributed enough offense to be a double-double / triple-double machine. His energy and versatility are central to how this team operates.

Hart started all 77 games last season, averaging 37.6 minutes, the second-most in the league. He posted career-highs in rebounds (9.6) and assists (5.9), alongside 13.6 points and 1.5 steals. In the playoffs, he averaged 11.6 points across 18 games, helping the Knicks reach their first Eastern Conference Finals since 2000.

Soldiering on through injury isn’t new for Josh. Hart played through abdominal pain the season before and rarely misses time. His toughness and consistency are why the Knicks committed four years and $80.9 million to him, and why he’s still a critical piece heading into year three in New York.

With Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and OG Anunoby in place, the Knicks are contenders. Hart is a necessary glue guy piece. And while new head coach Mike Brown may change the schemes, Hart’s two-way game fits right in.

The Knicks are likely to benefit from injuries elsewhere in the East, but their own health and cohesion may decide how far they go. Our fingers are crossed that Hart heals up fast and without further issue.

Cap Crunch Coming?

In a recent piece for ESPN, capologist Bobby Marks laid out just how punishing the NBA’s second apron has become. Designed to rein in big spenders, the new CBA rules strip teams over the threshold of key tools, like aggregating salaries in trades, using most exceptions, or trading future firsts.

Marks points to recent history: blockbuster moves like the Suns landing Durant and Beal or Boston’s Holiday–Porzingis pivot. Two years later, most of those rosters have already unraveled.

The Knicks aren’t over the second apron yet, but they’re playing close. For the second straight summer, the Knicks are flirting with the second apron. Last year’s Towns trade and this summer’s Guerschon Yabusele’s partial taxpayer midlevel deal hard-capped the team, yet they’re still $52 million under next season’s apron, thanks largely to Jalen Brunson taking a $12 million discount.

That cushion gives New York room to offer Mikal Bridges a four-year, $156.1 million extension, but there’s a ripple effect. A new deal for Bridges starting at $34.8 million could put Mitchell Robinson on the chopping block. Like Bridges, Mitch is eligible for a four-year extension and becomes a free agent if unsigned by June of 2026.

Keeping the core intact is doable, but it won’t be painless. Read Marks’ full article here.

New Dad Deuce McBride Drops Debut Children’s Book

Miles “Deuce” McBride is doing good stuff off the court. The pride of the Knicks second unit recently released his first children’s book, Deuce: The Champion of Friendship, in June 2025. Aimed at readers aged 7–11, the 40-page story follows Deuce, his friend Lily, and a shy new kid named Ravi navigating friendship and inclusion through pickup hoops and a school tournament.

The book, listed at $17 on Amazon, highlights themes like empathy, teamwork, and standing up for others.

The release came shortly after McBride and his girlfriend, Ana Zortea (Brazilian model, content creator, and former competitive swimmer), welcomed their daughter, Ace. Deuce appeared on the Today Show and shared that the idea was inspired by lessons learned on the court and a desire to someday read the book to his daughter. Watch his appearance here.

On July 8, McBride announced a signed jersey giveaway on X. Might not be too late to throw your pic into the mix:

Congratulations, Deuce! Go Knicks.