Isaiah Hartenstein gave the OKC Thunder what it previously lacked: interior size and rebounding.
Editor’s note: As an annual end-of-season exercise, The Oklahoman publishes a series of report cards on each of the Thunder’s main roster players. Grades will be curved relative to role and expectations. Next up: Isaiah Hartenstein.
The biggest free agent signee in Thunder history paid off. Isaiah Hartenstein was worth every penny of his $30 million contract — which more than doubled Hartenstein’s career earnings. He was worth Sam Presti flying to Eugene, Oregon, to woo the former New York Knick to small-market Oklahoma City. When you win a championship, it’s all worth it.
Hartenstein gave the Thunder what it previously lacked: interior size and rebounding.
The 7-foot, 255-pound center — equipped with his patented push shot and guard-like passing instincts — also gave coach Mark Daigneault options. The option to use Hartenstein alongside Chet Holmgren in a double-big tandem, but also to deploy Hartenstein as a second-unit offensive hub. If someone cut to the hoop, Hartenstein would find them.
The Hartenstein/Holmgren combo remains a work in progress. Hartenstein missed the first 15 games of the season with a fracture in his left hand. By the time he made his Thunder debut in late November, Holmgren had already suffered a hip injury that would sideline him until early February.
Hartenstein and Holmgren only played in 20 regular season games together. The Thunder, in the 316 minutes they shared, outscored opponents by 13.5 points per 100 possessions. In 239 playoff minutes, lineups that included Hartenstein and Holmgren had a 5.1 net rating.
Hartenstein started all but three playoff games — Games 1 through 3 of the NBA Finals against the Pacers. Daigneault opted to go smaller with guard Cason Wallace in place of Hartenstein, but Daigneault went back to Hartenstein to start in Games 4 through 7.
After playing a critical role in the Denver series, battling Nikola Jokic and scoring in double figures in five of the seven games, Hartenstein’s minutes dipped in the conference finals and NBA Finals. Some of that was matchup-based. Some of it was Hartenstein struggling to impact games in the same way as he did in the regular season.
Hartenstein, who turned 27 in May, is just now entering his prime. He’s only emerged as a starting caliber center in the last two seasons.
In Year 1 in Oklahoma City, Hartenstein ingratiated himself in the community as much as Sam Presti said he’s ever seen of a newcomer.
“It needs to be spoken and said out loud,” Presti said in his postseason news conference. “Incredible commitment from Day 1.”
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Isaiah Hartenstein by the numbers
53: Hartenstein made a career-high 53 starts (out of the 57 games he played). He started in 20 of the Thunder’s 23 playoff games. His 27.9 minutes per game were also a career-high. After logging a total of 16 starts in his first five NBA seasons, Hartenstein has made 102 starts in his last two seasons — 53 starts with the Thunder and 49 for the Knicks in 2023-24.
10.7: Hartenstein led the Thunder in rebounds with 10.7 per game. Had he qualified — Hartenstein was one game shy of the 58-game minimum to qualify for the league leaderboard — Hartenstein would’ve ranked eighth in the NBA in rebounds per game. His 2.9 offensive rebounds per game would’ve been tied for 11th.
0 of 19: In the 1990-91 season, Clippers guard Tom Garrick went 0 of 22 from 3-point range. Garrick holds the NBA record for most 3-point attempts in a season without a make. Behind Garrick is Lakers Hall of Famer Magic Johnson, who shot 0 of 21 from 3 in 1982-83. And tied for third on this brick list are Hartenstein and former Bulls guard Gene Banks, both of whom went 0 of 19 from 3 in a season.
Isaiah Hartenstein offseason homework
Defending without fouling: His 3.9 fouls per 36 minutes were the most of any Thunder rotational player. Free-throw shooting: Hartenstein was fourth on the Thunder in free throw attempts per game and 15th in free-throw percentage (67.5%).
Isaiah Hartenstein grade: A-
Hartenstein was a perfect fit in Oklahoma City. He helped keep the Thunder afloat — OK, more than afloat — when Holmgren was out. Hartenstein took a slight step back in the playoffs, but does the Thunder beat the Nuggets without him? Probably not. That series was tough enough with him. Daigneault very quickly pivoted from Holmgren to Hartenstein as the primary defender on Jokic.
Thunder report card schedule
In his championship parade address, Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt announced that Thunder chairman Clay Bennett, general manager Sam Presti, coach Mark Daigneault and every Thunder player would be honored with their own official day in Oklahoma City.
We’re following Holt’s schedule, publishing each player’s report card on their respective day.
- July 11: Ousmane Dieng
- July 15: Ajay Mitchell
- July 16: Jaylin Williams
- July 17: Kenrich Williams
- July 18: Isaiah Joe
- July 21: Aaron Wiggins
- July 22: Cason Wallace
- July 23: Isaiah Hartenstein
- July 24: Alex Caruso
- July 25: Lu Dort
- July 28: Chet Holmgren
- July 29: Jalen Williams
- July 30: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at [email protected]. Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Isaiah Hartenstein report card: Thunder center was worth every penny
Category: Basketball
