Josh Hart Mocks Sixers After Sweeping Them 4-0: “Used to Think Philly Was a Sports Town”

Before Josh Hart and his New York Knicks started their Eastern Conference semi-finals clash against the Philadelphia 76ers, there were doubts that the Big Apple-based team could overcome the momentum their opponents had.

After all, the Sixers just defeated the second-best team in the East in seven games. It was the same Celtics who were touted to be NBA Finals-bound after ending the regular season ahead of the Knicks.

The latter may have enjoyed a blowout series against the Hawks in the first round. But no one was giving it credit, as the Atlanta-based team was no match for the deep Knicks.

Despite winning the first two games against the 76ers, many felt that the latter were about to change the course of this series. Once they have a healthy Joel Embiid and their fans behind them, the Knicks would struggle.

I used to think Philly was a sports town, I don’t know if it is anymore.

Josh Hart told reporters after Game 4

This was the jovial guard’s response when asked whether the presence of Knicks fans at Xfinity Mobile Arena was a big boost for his team.

"I used to think Philly was a sports town, I don't know if it is anymore"

Josh Hart says he wasn't surprised at how many Knicks fans were in Philly: pic.twitter.com/kBNmhCFvNE

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 10, 2026

Embiid ‘begged’ Philadelphia sports fans not to sell their tickets to those coming in from New York. But the sea of orange and blue had Josh Hart not only trolling the former league MVP but also the city.

Philly is proud of its sports teams, as it has been their support for the Eagles and the Flyers. But when it comes to the Sixers, this and last season have proved that they may not have the same opinion about their basketball team.

Josh Hart continues to troll the 76ers after sweeping them

Hart’s flaming Philadelphia sports fans will lead to quite some debates, as the town will not allow this to die down. But until they do, he knew he had the upper hand and continued to troll them once he managed to get his phone.

The 31-year-old took to Instagram to repost an AI video created by a Knicks fan page. The video shows Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and himself dancing to a remixed version of Janelle Monae and Jidenna‘s Yoga.

Considering how the lyrics talk about partying on a beach, it could mean either of two things. It could be that Josh Hart and his two teammates are going to party after sweeping the 76ers.

Josh Hart on IG: pic.twitter.com/iCfcIT9SlN

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 11, 2026

Or, it could be Josh Hart taking shots at their perennial opponents, as they now have to go to Cancun, which is where NBA players are generally trolled for going after blowing the Sixers out by an average of 22 points per game.

Josh Hart’s Knicks had their loud fans behind them in Philadelphia

Usually, when opposing fans travel to the home team’s arena, they are wary of starting anything that could upset the locals. In the NFL, fights are commonplace, especially when away fans try talking smack.

In the NBA, fans do not throw hands, but jawing is the usual tactic to get under the other team’s skin. At Xfinity Mobile Arena, the usually combative Philadelphia fans could not do anything.

It was not that they were outnumbered, as many reported that the arena was split between fans of both teams. But whenever the Knicks scored, New Yorkers were evidently much louder than the locals.

Knicks fans in Philly for Game 4. 🤯

This is what it sounds like every time New York scores. pic.twitter.com/6l90FvcQxu

— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) May 10, 2026

Such support tends to boost the confidence of their players, and that is possibly why the 76ers could not do anything at any time in the game.

The Knicks started the game with a fury of a team hungry to prove their naysayers wrong. Even if the home team wanted to counter with a rally of their own, the sheer lack of support did not give them the boost that they wanted.

Eventually, Josh Hart and his team wound up booking their tickets to the Western Conference Finals for the second-straight year.

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