What Scouting Taught NBA Champion Josh Hart

Over his nine seasons in the NBA, Josh Hart has faced challenges — from season-ending surgeries to being traded to different teams. But thanks to the values he learned in Scouting, he hoisted the championship trophy with his New York Knicks teammates this past June. And he’s also Scouting America’s newest ambassador! We called a quick timeout to talk with him about his time in Scouting and how it’s impacted him on the court.

Scout Life: Why did you join Scouting?

Josh Hart: My dad was in it, and so was my older brother, so that influenced me.

SL: Can you tell us about a memorable outing?

JH: My dad wouldn’t let me go to a basketball camp I had been invited to because I had a Scouting beach camping trip at the same time. It was windy and cold, but the memories I made with my fellow Scouts — the conversations and camaraderie — are what stick out.

SL: You took a few years off from Scouting to focus on basketball. Why did you come back?

JH: After I got home from a high school practice one night, my dad and I took a drive, and we ended up at a Scout meeting. He reminded me that I made him a promise that I would earn my Eagle Scout and told me that I needed to be a man of my word — because our word is the most important thing.

SL: What did you do for your Eagle Scout project?

JH: I repainted and remodeled the back of our church and the picnic area next to it. I learned all the things that go into that, like the people you have to talk to and the different ways of communicating with different people.

SL: A lot of kids worry about having to give up an activity in order to do Scouting. But you did both. How’d you do it?

JH: It is possible to do both. Scouting helps sports and vice versa. It helps you prioritize, gives you discipline and allows you to do a lot of different things to determine what you love.

SL: You’ve faced plenty of obstacles in your career. What’s one that sticks out, and how did Scouting help you overcome it?

JH: Early in my career, after being drafted in the first round, I was called down by the Lakers to the G League team. I was really disappointed. But in Scouts, I learned to put the team first and practice servitude. I was able to use these values to keep my head up, perform and make it back to the Lakers.

SL: What would you tell readers about the importance of Scouting?

JH: Scouting encourages you to gain experience in real-life scenarios that can be applied to anything. It’s shown me the importance of honor and keeping your word and about being kind, trustworthy and helpful. It’s also about being a leader — not a follower.

Photographs by Scouting America; Geoff Burke/Thomson Reuters/Imagn