Josh Hart is proving that even NBA champions aren't safe from the internet.
The New York Knicks guard recently liked a post on X that turned teammate Mikal Bridges into the stuff of nightmares. The video, posted by @jonmoxieys, pokes fun at Bridges' now-infamous Instagram Live by portraying the forward as a drunken sleep paralysis demon hovering over someone trying to sleep.
Hart's like quickly caught fans' attention, adding another chapter to what's become one of the funniest storylines to emerge from the Knicks' championship celebration.
Bridges' livestream took place on June 15, just two days after New York captured its first NBA title in 53 years. Fresh off a whirlwind morning of television appearances, Bridges went live looking noticeably intoxicated and immediately embraced the chaos. At one point, he paused to look at the clock and laugh at himself.
"It's 11 AM," Bridges said. "What the fuck am I doing?"
The stream only became more unhinged from there. Bridges danced around with his dog, Sonny, flashed autographed jerseys from teammates Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo as well as Austin Reaves, and passionately defended his love for Coldplay.
"Lost by Coldplay, come on, bro," he said. "You can't tell me that shit not a banger."
The best moment, however, may have been Bridges' heartfelt tribute to Finals MVP Jalen Brunson.
"Build him a statue," Bridges declared. "Build that little big-headed ass n*** a statue."
He doubled down moments later while talking about Brunson's mentality heading into next season.
"If you don't think that n***a not ready for another run, then y'all don't know JB," he said.
Fans couldn't get enough of the stream. A YouTube re-upload amassed more than 165,000 views, while clips circulated widely across social media, spawning memes, reaction videos and now, apparently, sleep paralysis demon skits endorsed by Hart himself.
Bridges hasn't slowed down since. During an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show the following day, he jokingly argued that just about everyone connected to the Knicks deserved a championship ring, including Spike Lee, Timothée Chalamet, Ben Stiller, Tracy Morgan, Patrick Ewing and Kylie Jenner.
"Everybody," Bridges said. "You can name anybody. I'm gonna say yes to everybody."
The laughs come after a historic postseason run for New York. The Knicks stormed through the playoffs with a 16-3 record, sweeping both the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers before defeating the San Antonio Spurs in five games to secure the franchise's first title since 1973.
