New York Knicks are becoming more involved with Napoli Basket

The connection between Josh Hart and Napoli has taken on a new dimension. The New York Knicks player has confirmed he has strengthened his commitment to Napoli Basket. This announcement has generated considerable excitement within the club, particularly among Assane Sankaré.

“I didn’t mean to say that.” Josh Hart smiled, surprised by the question. We were at Madison Square Garden, after the game between the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets. The Knicks’ shooting guard/small forward had just been asked about his ties to Napoli Basket and the nature of his commitment to the Italian club.

After an initial hesitation, he finally let slip a particularly interesting piece of information:

"This summer, I got a little more involved with the club. Matt will talk about it."

This statement is not insignificant. Josh Hart, former Villanova player and one of the key members of the New York Knicks, has maintained a special connection with Naples for several years.

Last summer, the American player took advantage of his time in the region to also revisit Capri and the Amalfi Coast. His connection to the area now extends beyond mere tourism.

Behind this growing involvement is Matt Rizzetta, a central figure in Napoli Basket's development project. The club harbors great ambitions, aiming to establish itself permanently among the major players in Italian basketball and, ultimately, to regain a European presence.

The project for a new arena is also part of the ambitions that accompany the development of the structure.

Josh Hart could therefore play a more significant role in this endeavor. The player, renowned for his versatility and energy on the court, is often considered a true Swiss Army knife by his teammates and NBA observers.

The precise nature of his commitment remains to be seen. On this point, Hart prefers to let Matt Rizzetta provide the explanation: "He will talk about it."

This development is also welcomed with great enthusiasm by Assane Sankaré, a young player for Napoli Basket.

Following this exchange, Sankaré personally thanked me and again told me how happy he was to see Josh Hart getting more involved in the club.

This enthusiasm reflects the importance that this connection with the NBA could have for the development of the Neapolitan project.

The involvement of a player competing at the highest level of world basketball - last season's reigning champion - represents an additional opportunity to strengthen the international visibility of Napoli Basket and give a new dimension to its ambitions.

For Napoli, who dream of regaining a leading position on the European stage, the rapprochement with Josh Hart could well constitute a strong signal.

One thing is now certain: the link between the Knicks player and Napoli Basket seems to go far beyond simple sympathy for the club.