NEW YORK — Josh Hart somehow produced the best three-point shooting season of his career while playing with a finger that medical professionals would probably prefer not to use as an example.
Hart shot better than 41 percent from deep despite continuing to play through significant damage to the finger, creating an increasingly uncomfortable relationship between basketball analytics and basic anatomy.
Knicks coaches were thrilled with the shooting.
Doctors reportedly had other questions.
“Statistically, this is excellent,” one fictional team analyst said while staring at an X-ray. “Structurally, I would prefer not to comment.”
Hart has said the more extensive surgical option could threaten his ability to continue playing, leaving him with the unusual task of managing a championship basketball career around one increasingly theoretical joint.
The Knicks are treating the situation carefully.
Hart is treating it like Josh Hart treats most things: by continuing to play anyway.
New York’s analytics department has reportedly begun studying whether finger stability was secretly holding back his jumper all along.
Early findings are inconclusive.
What is clear is that Hart shot a career-best percentage from three while one part of his hand quietly stopped following conventional engineering standards.
Basketball remains a deeply scientific sport.
Sometimes the science is just confusing.
