Knicks’ Josh Hart Recalls ‘Shaking Like A Stripper’ When Nervously Introducing Kith’s Ronnie Fieg at the 2023 FNAAs
Josh Hart, shooting guard on the New York Knicks starting lineup, can bank crucial free throws during NBA playoffs games as fans of the opposing team try to psych him out. As a professional athlete, he can undoubtedly perform under pressure — but giving a speech at the Footwear News Achievement Awards? Hart admits that’s no walk in the park.
On his podcast “The Roommates Show,” which he hosts alongside Knicks captain Jalen Brunson and Matt Hillman, Hart opened up about his experience at the 2023 FNAAs, when he introduced Kith founder Ronnie Fieg with the Retailer of the Year Award. Hart looked back at the event as the introductory story for the podcast episode released Nov. 8, not long after the new Knicks x Kith collection dropped.
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“So [Fieg] calls me probably like three, four days before and was like ‘Yo, you want to do a speech, I’m getting an award, I’d love for you to do it,'” Hart said. “I’m like ‘Hell yeah, bet, let’s do it.’ He didn’t really tell me exactly what he was getting the award for or how important or special the award was. So I’m thinkin’ like, ‘He’s getting an award, it’s gonna be dope, but it’s not gonna be, like, crazy pressure. It’s gonna be a breeze.'”
When he arrived at Cipriani South Street last November, Hart quickly realized the power of the room. “As soon as I got there, I started seeing all the people that were there — all the heads of Nike, Adidas, Asics…literally every footwear brand was there, all the people they collabed with, the celebrities and all that were there…Someone described it as the Grammys of the footwear [industry.] And I came up there shaking like a stripper.”
Asked if he had something prepared, Hart said, “We had something prepared. And when I told you I was so nervous, I think I said the first four words and then had a dramatic ass pause for like eight seconds. I put my head down and everything, I’m like ‘Damn, I’m messing this up.’ I opened with a terrible joke about the Knicks — like four people laughed and they were all Knick fans. And it was just probably one of the worst speeches I ever gave.”
Prompted to share if his perception of the moment, Fieg confirmed Hart was nervous but added later, “It ended up being cool though. It was Josh Hart — people give him the benefit of the doubt…It was great. Honestly, it was great. Not a great speech, but it was a great moment.”
Hart said, “I think I apologized like four times. Then, the next day, the next I saw him.”
Looking on the positive side, Hillman said, “We wouldn’t have a podcast opener if it weren’t for that. It led to a great story.” Hart agreed: “Terrifying moment, but good story.”
Fieg added, “I think that moment kind of helped him with this podcast, to be honest. He learned from that, now he’s on a big stage.”
Watch “The Roommates Show” episode featuring 2023 FNAA winner Ronnie Fieg below.
