Silver Spring, Maryland, Josh believes his parents were proud of who he had become, but he also knows they didn’t enjoy the struggles they faced raising him.
Josh Hart was drafted in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft as the 30th overall pick by the Utah Jazz, but he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers on the same night.
Highlights
- Josh Hart’s parents, Moses and Pat, always ensured their son had the support he needed, even if it meant late-night basketball sessions when most people were asleep.
- Pat worked long hours as a waitress at a country club, often taking on double shifts to support the family.
- Although Moses grew up playing baseball, he supported Josh’s decision to focus on basketball.
After two seasons with the Lakers, he was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2019 as part of the deal that sent Anthony Davis to Los Angeles.
Hart spent three seasons with the Pelicans before being traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in 2022. In 2023, he was traded again to the New York Knicks.
Josh Hart’s Father Trained Him For Basketball Till He Didn’t Improve In Late-Night Sessions
Despite the challenges, including financial struggles, Moses and his wife, Pat, always ensured their son, Josh, had the support he needed, even if it meant late-night basketball sessions when most people were asleep.
Moses, a chef, would often work late into the night, but after coming home, he would take Josh to a nearby basketball court, sometimes as late as 10 or 11 p.m.
This wasn’t a one-time event; it was a routine. Moses would shine the headlights of their old Volvo onto the court, and the two would shoot around until they couldn’t anymore.
They’d wrap up their sessions with Slurpees from 7-Eleven on warm summer nights. During the winter, they’d shovel off half the court to keep playing.
Moses didn’t push his son in the typical way. He wasn’t the type of parent who yelled or criticized; instead, he believed in showing Josh the value of hard work.
He’d tell him that if he found something he was good at, he needed to put in the effort to be the best.
Although Moses grew up playing baseball, he supported Josh’s decision to focus on basketball.
He even included Josh’s older brother in their late-night games until Josh became good enough to win regularly.
Mother Pat Hart Waited For Years To Get The Insurance Paper Done And Then Headed To Surgery
Josh’s mother, Pat, worked long hours as a waitress at a country club, often taking on double shifts to support the family.
Despite dealing with the pain of a knee that eventually needed replacement, she kept working while waiting for the insurance paperwork to be processed.
It took her about two years to get the surgery, but she kept going, enduring the pain so she could provide for her family.
Josh’s father, Moses, is in his late 60s as well and works part-time as a chef at a catering company.
His income varies from month to month, and some months are more financially stable than others, but he continues to work hard to support the family.
The Hart Family Warns Josh Not To Receive Under The Table Payments For Their Well-being
Josh Hart sometimes thinks that if his family had received extra help and under-the-table payments like others, his parents might have a better financial position.
But he also understands that this is precisely what his father, Moses, always warned him against.
Moses has seen too many kids in the AAU circuit focused only on money, and he made sure Josh stayed grounded and clear of that.
Josh’s mother, Pat, says they never expected Josh to provide for them, no matter how successful he becomes.
The family has also joked that they will follow him wherever his NBA career takes him, living in a small cottage nearby and looking after Josh’s Rottweiler whenever he’s on the road.
Additional Information
- After weighing his options between Rutgers and Penn State, Josh Hart signed a letter of intent with Villanova in November 2012.
- Hart developed a bond with future Villanova teammate Kris Jenkins while playing AAU basketball in the Washington, D.C., area.
- In 2013, Hart achieved Eagle Scout rank in Boy Scouts of America (BSA).
