There’s little question in anybody’s thoughts that Oklahoma Metropolis are one of many predominant contenders for this 12 months’s NBA title, as they’ve remained one of many league’s prime groups since final season and have maintained their core to proceed their profitable course of. This season to date they’re atop the West’s standings with a 13-4 document.
Nevertheless, the Thunder group made one administration determination that has critically improved their prospects of pushing for the championship, and star participant Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gave credit score to his membership for this elementary acquisition.
After Monday night’s 130-109 win towards the Sacramento Kings, the OKC level guard praised his teammate Isaiah Hartenstein, who dropped 17 factors, received 10 rebounds and handed out 4 assists. “He’s a dream large man for a marquee man,” the All-Star mentioned of the large man’s contribution to the squad.
Isaiah Hartenstein, a ‘dream large’ for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, discusses determination to affix Thunder https://t.co/9rxkTk9g78
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) November 26, 2024
The Canadian guard mirrored on the void that Hartenstein has been filling since arriving in Oklahoma, particularly now that Chet Holmgren has fallen to damage. “We knew as a gaggle—and the world kinda knew—there was a gap in us as a workforce final 12 months,” he defined. “I feel Isaiah fills that gap very nicely. Sam did job filling it. We’re higher due to it.”
Shai even admitted that he all the time felt impressed by Isaiah, even earlier than he was acquired by his workforce. “To be sincere, I used to be watching the playoffs, and I’m conscious of contract conditions within the league…” he recalled. “After I noticed the Knicks make all these strikes in the summertime with out him concerned, I used to be kinda like, ‘Hmm…’”
“Offensive rebounding, defensive rebounding, measurement generally,” the Canadian famous a few of Hartenstein’s predominant contributions. “Lots of instances, we’ve needed to double the submit as a result of we had been undersized. Now, we don’t should as a lot anymore. He’s very expert, and he can cross.”
If there’s one factor that helps Gilgeous-Alexander to sleep nicely at evening, is realizing that OKC’s basic supervisor Sam Presti has bought everybody below management. “I go away the entrance workplace stuff to Sam. I belief him rather well. Clearly, he reads minds. So I didn’t should say something,” the star assured.
Hartenstein needed to wait and miss the primary 15 video games of the season attributable to a fractured hand, however his debut got here proper on the good second
The previous Knicks participant joined Oklahoma Metropolis through the summer season after signing a three-year, $87 million contract, with the hopes that he would finally develop into a core piece inside coach Mark Daigneault’s squad. Sadly, he fractured his hand throughout preseason and recovered through the first 15 video games of the marketing campaign.
Nevertheless, all of the steam was let off throughout his season debut towards the Path Blazers, when the Thunder heart posted 13 factors, 14 rebounds, and three assists off the bench of their 109-99 victory final week.
Days later he began towards Sacramento, and he continued to show his value serving to OKC safe one more win. With 17 factors extra factors to his identify, Isaiah ought to proceed to stable his workforce’s place as one of many prime contenders within the Western Convention.
“He’s among the best rim protectors within the league. Not essentially with the shot-blocking numbers of fellows like Chet or the very best guys, however rim deterrence, rim field-goal share; he’s wonderful,” coach Daigneault mentioned. “And it’s for causes like that. He’s tall, he’s large, he’s bodily, and he’s within the performs.”
