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Naples, the Amalfi Coast, and now a potentially bigger role in the future of Napoli Basket. Josh Hart, New York Knicks star and 2025-26 NBA champion, has spoken publicly about his relationship with the Italian club, hinting that his involvement may be moving to another level.
“I wasn’t going to say that.” Hart smiles, caught slightly off guard by the direct question. After an initial moment of hesitation, he opens up about his affection for Naples and the Amalfi Coast, places he has visited several times. But it is what he says next that makes the conversation particularly interesting.
“This summer I got a little more involved with the organization. I’ll let Matt talk about it at the appropriate time, when everything is finalized and completed.”
He is referring to Matt Rizzetta, president of Napoli Basket, who is expected to clarify the nature of Hart’s increased involvement. The Knicks star prefers not to go into details, leaving any official announcement to the club’s president.
An investment? A consulting role? For now, there is no official confirmation of the structure or terms of any potential agreement. But Hart’s words suggest that his relationship with the organization has evolved beyond that of a celebrity supporter.
And his enthusiasm goes beyond the city itself. He is genuinely interested in what Napoli Basket is building and in the club’s ambitions for the future.
“I’ve been to Naples and the Amalfi Coast several times. They’re amazing places. You learn more about the culture and the people who live there,” Hart explains.
When the conversation turns to the club’s plans, he adds: “I have a lot of love for them and for what they’re building over there: the team, the new arena. There are a lot of big things coming, and I’m excited about it.”
The interview takes place in the locker room at Madison Square Garden, following the Knicks’ victory over the Brooklyn Nets in the New York derby.
The conversation also came about thanks to Assane Sankaré, the young Italian-Senegalese talent of Napoli Basket, who had previously told me how excited he was about Hart’s Instagram posts and his positive comments about the team and its fans.
Apparently, the enthusiasm goes both ways.
Why Napoli Basket? The Story Behind Hart’s Connection
Hart’s connection with Naples is nothing new. He has visited the city and the Campania region several times, returning last summer shortly after winning the NBA championship. The Amalfi Coast also holds a special place in his personal life: he previously spent part of his honeymoon there.
Over the past few months, he has shared his appreciation for Naples on social media, highlighting the city’s atmosphere, its people and the passion of its basketball supporters.
Born in 1995, Hart is one of the most versatile players on the New York Knicks roster. The 6-foot-5 guard-forward has earned a reputation as one of the team’s ultimate utility players, capable of contributing in almost every aspect of the game.
After winning the NCAA championship with Villanova in 2016, he was selected in the 2017 NBA Draft. His professional career has included stops with the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers and New York Knicks.
With more than 600 NBA appearances, Hart has averaged 10.5 points, 7 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game over his career. During the 2025-26 playoffs, he contributed 10.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game, including 13 points and 11 rebounds in the decisive Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs.
Napoli Basket Has Bigger Ambitions
Hart’s comments come at a particularly interesting time for Napoli Basket. Under Matt Rizzetta’s leadership, the club is pursuing a broader vision that goes beyond the basketball court, with ambitions to strengthen its sporting identity, infrastructure and international profile.
One of the key projects is the construction of a new, state-of-the-art arena, which could become a major asset for the future of basketball in Naples. There is also a bigger sporting ambition: a potential place in the EuroLeague, Europe’s premier basketball competition.
Naples is a city where football has traditionally been a religion. But basketball is increasingly finding its own place in the hearts of local fans.
The atmosphere at Napoli Basket games often resembles that of the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Supporters sing throughout the game, even when the team loses, and players are celebrated and applauded at the end of every match. The relationship between the team and its fans goes well beyond the final score.
The potential involvement of an NBA star like Josh Hart in Rizzetta’s project would represent much more than a financial contribution. It could bring international visibility, credibility and a direct connection to one of the world’s most influential basketball markets.
For now, Hart is keeping the details to himself and leaving Matt Rizzetta to explain what is taking shape.
But one thing is clear: his interest in Naples goes well beyond that of a visitor enjoying the Italian coastline.
And while Napoli Basket fans wait for more details, the city has another reason to dream.
