Knicks start camp under Mike Brown as Hart wears finger splint

The New York Knicks opened training-camp week under a new coach and with high expectations, but two medical storylines and several roster questions framed media day on Tuesday. New coach Mike Brown promised a deeper rotation and a faster, more spaced offense, veteran Josh Hart said he will play the season with a reaggravated right-ring-finger injury and likely wear a splint, and center Karl-Anthony Towns publicly denied reports that he underwent knee surgery this summer.

Hart, who was a full-time starter for much of last season and averaged 13.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 5.9 assists, told reporters he had a procedure in July to address the playoff injury sustained in the Eastern Conference Finals and then "kinda reaggravated it somewhat recently." He said he plans to "rock out with a splint this season" and try to delay further corrective surgery until next summer. Hart added he feels comfortable playing through the issue and that he will adapt if the splint affects his usual aggressiveness. Team officials did not outline a timetable beyond Hart's own comments.

Towns, who joined the Knicks in a midseason trade and posted All-NBA honors, pushed back against media reports that he...