Mulling over his choices, Isaiah Hartenstein made the close decision to sign with the Oklahoma City Thunder over the New York Knicks.
Traditionally struggling to draw free agents, a mixture of contract and being a contender helped the Thunder land Hartenstein, who is seen as the best outside addition in franchise history.
The 26-year-old admitted he struggled with his decision to leave the New York Knicks. He had his breakout year last season as he took over the starter spot over Mitchell Robinson, who was injured.
“If I’m honest, it was hard. I was in a situation (where) I loved my teammates out in New York,” Hartenstein said. “I really appreciate what Tibs and Leon did for me, and the fans in New York showed a lot of love.”
The appeal to play for a title contender allured Hartenstein. In OKC, he can make a stellar frontcourt with Chet Holmgren. The pair of seven-footers provide the Thunder with stout rim protection.
“But going into this situation, this is very exciting,” Hartenstein said. “From afar, I always saw how the culture was, especially since they’ve been in OKC, how they established a culture.
“The style of play I think really fits me. I’m a high-IQ player. They have a lot of guys who cut, so I think to me I’m one of the best passers in the NBA.”
The Thunder landed their biggest fish yet since they relocated to OKC. Perhaps this is the dawn of a new era where modern players are more open to playing with the Thunder than previous generations.
The finances are likely the biggest reasons, but it’s still shocking to see an NBA player willingly choose OKC over the bright lights of New York.
