In a tight East battle, where any slip-up can be a landslide, the Knicks, with two consecutive wins, have managed to hold their fort. And, on March 25, 2025, Josh Hart had every opportunity to celebrate the New York Knicks’ 128-113 victory against the Dallas Mavericks. Reason? He nabbed his ninth triple-double of the season, breaking a franchise record previously owned by Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier, and he shared the court with another triple-double performance from Karl-Anthony Towns. But beyond his achievement, today, he had another reason to remember.

This would surely be a career-defining moment for most players. For Hart, it was something he had seen before—back in the years when he watched LeBron James and Lonzo Ball. In a full circle moment, he was now on the other side of history. Hart looked back to December 15, 2018, when he was on the court when Lakers guard James and Ball became the first Lakers duo since Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to record triple-doubles in the same game.

“I think I was in L.A. four or five years ago when Bron and Lonzo did it. Watching that, I’m like, that’s something that’s really dope. Now full circle, now I’m in that same situation with Kat,” Hart said. “It was really dope. It was a blessing.” Hart was a young player, absorbing the occasion. It would have lasting impressions on him watching LeBron dictate the game whilst Ball went along with it. Fast forward to 2025, Hart is no longer a witness, he is now one of the stars who is making history himself.

Sharing a triple-double moment with Karl-Anthony Towns, he couldn’t help but think back to those milestones that marked his growth. But when did his first come? Josh Hart recorded his first career triple-double on January 30, 2024, with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a win over the Jazz, then followed it up with a stronger performance on February 8, posting 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists against the Mavericks. So something of this sort, someday, was always on the cards, and it came his way. But what made the night even more special was how he handled his milestone.

More than just records: A heartwarming gesture

As good as the heart gets. Instead of focusing on his achievement, Hart chose to highlight a different milestone—that of Knicks rookie Kevin McCullar Jr., who scored his first NBA points after battling back from a knee injury. After the game, Hart made sure McCullar got the game ball, explaining why his record-breaking night was secondary to something more meaningful.

“That record is cool and a blessing, but at the end of the day, that record is going to get broken at some point. Hopefully later rather than sooner, but that’s going to get broken,” Hart said. Continuing with his wisdom, this was an even bigger achievement: “Getting your first NBA points, no one can take that away from you. It’s important that he had that, got the game ball for that. That’s an easy decision for me.”

That selfless mentality has always defined Hart’s game. He hustles for rebounds, makes the extra pass, and does the little things that don’t always make the highlight reel. His gesture toward McCullar was simply another example of why he’s one of the most respected teammates in the league.

Hart may have been reminiscing about LeBron’s triple-double legacy, but on this night, he was writing his own. Breaking a Knicks franchise record, leading his team to victory, and sharing a historic moment with Towns—all while making sure a rookie’s first points weren’t overlooked—perfectly encapsulated who Hart is, as a player and leader.