Isaiah Hartenstein was a fan favorite in New York City last season as a key member of the New York Knicks. In fact he placed within the top-20 in rebounds per game with the Knicks and played a vital piece in their playoff success when Mitchell Robinson was injured.
This season? He’s revving up in making a similar impact in Oklahoma City with the Thunder.
For those keeping score at home: the big man has tallied eight double-doubles in his last nine games to the tune of 13.7 points and 12.7 rebounds per contest for a 25-5 Thunder team who is currently in first place in the NBA’s Western Conference standings.
Last offseason, the Oklahoma City Thunder signed Isiah Hartenstein to an already potent roster and the move has paid dividends so far for OKC as they are currently sitting at 25-5 in the NBA’s Western Conference standings.
Tallying eight double-doubles in his last nine games for the Thunder while averaging 13.7 points, 12.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.7 blocks Hartenstein went from being a fan favorite in NYC with the Knicks to doing pretty much the same thing in Oklahoma.
The 26-year-old center has been instrumental in the Thunder‘s success and he’s loving the big moment. While he is focused on his role in OKC, the big man is like many of us: he enjoys watching hoops and he says he still does pay attention to the success of his former team the New York Knicks. Moreover, Harteinstein says he is impressed by the play of Knicks big man Karl Anthony Towns.
KAT’s stat line so far this season: 24.5 points, 13,5 rebounds and 3.4 assists on 54.5% shooting.
“I think it was the perfect trade off,” Hartenstein tells me.
“I mean, I feel like they got what they needed to get. Leon did a great job of getting another All-Star especially after I left and so, he’s a topic in the league and he’s been great for them but right now I’m just focusing on how to help this team right now. But again, Leon’s done a great job over there.”
Hartenstein watched the Knicks’ Christmas day game against the San Antonio Spurs and their star in Victor Wembanyama. Hart shared that he enjoyed watching both the Knicks’ win and Wemby’s 42 point, 18 rebound, 4 assist, 4 block and 1 steal outing in the loss. “I think it was a great game especially for basketball,” Hartenstein told me.
“I think Wemby played amazing that game; I think the guys did a good job — the Knicks did a good job of staying with it and grinding it out at the end. And I think especially with a guy like Thibbs, you’re always going to have a team that you can never just let lose and I think they did a great job of grinding it out and [Mikal] Bridges I think had like 40-something too and so I think that was big. I think generally the whole Christmas Day was great basketball. I think how the NBA did it, was great. I still think we should’ve been in it. I think when you have… I mean, when Chet [Holmgren] comes back, you have three All-Stars and an MVP. So I feel like we’re going to keep controlling what we can control but I feel like later on, we have to start getting a little bit more respect on that aspect.”
Last season, OKC became the youngest one seed in NBA history, however they fell short in the NBA Playoffs in a second-round matchup with the Dallas Mavericks. While the Thunder managed to go six games in Round 2 vs. Dallas, frankly, rebounding was their achilles heel against the Mavs. A double-double threat every night on the hardwood, Hartenstein is exactly what the Thunder needed and pairing him alongside teammates in Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and MVP candidate in franchise point guard, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a recipe for success.
Speaking of point guards, Hartenstein has had the luxury of playing alongside SGA this season and bringing his A-game playing alongside Knicks point guard, Jalen Brunson. While chatting with Hartenstein he shared what the similarities and differences are in playing alongside both All-Star guards. “They have a lot of similarities and they’re both team-first guys; that’s the similarities,” the Thunder big man shared.
“They both can get to the midrange but it’s different. I mean, with Brunson it was really more of me really trying to get him open and establishing the two man game a little bit and we’re playing off of each other I think a little bit; and then sometimes with Shai, sometimes it’s just better to just get out of his way and let him do his thing because he’s so skilled offensively. Jalen is super skilled but I think it’s different. It’s so different. They’re both great players but again, you just have to adjust to every player I feel like. It’s been going well with Shai and we have to keep doing that connection.”
In addition to posting nightly double doubles, Isaiah Hartenstein is also shooting 61.0 percent from the floor this season for the Thunder. He and the Thunder, winners of ten straight games, are on the second leg of a back to back and will take on the Memphis Grizzlies at home later today.
