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Josh Hart delivers perfect response to possible Victor Wembanyama Finals matchup
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- Josh Hart delivers perfect response to possible Victor Wembanyama Finals matchup
Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Victor Wembanyama reaches the NBA Finals as the defender nobody wants to solve. The Spurs star became the first ever unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, confirming his rare influence.
His postseason has strengthened that status. Wembanyama is averaging 3.5 blocks per game, with a 12-block night showing how quickly he turns clean looks into bad decisions.
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That is why Josh Hart's possible matchup carries intrigue.
And speaking on Sunday, Hart sounded amused, not intimidated, by the idea of Wembanyama being assigned to him.
Josh Hart weighs in on Victor Wembanyama challenge
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
The 31-year-old guard replied to the press: "The only unanimous Defensive Player of the Year is guarding me. That's a good sign for me, right? It means I'm a pretty good basketball player."
Hart also refused to judge his Finals impact through San Antonio's plan or one box score, stressing that his value has always stretched beyond scoring.
"I'm going to the game to play the game the way the game is there to play. If that's shooting and scoring, cool. If that's rebounding and defending, cool. I don't value what I do based on other people's game plan or what the box scores say," he stated.
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That answer fits Hart's role. He is averaging 11.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.8 steals this postseason, giving New York impact everywhere.
The Finals begin Wednesday in San Antonio, with Game 2 also at Frost Bank Center before the series moves to Madison Square Garden for Games 3 and 4.
Wembanyama may guard Hart while still roaming near the paint. Hart's task is theoretically simple: punish space and keep doing the work that took New York this far.
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