Latest news with #Hartenstein
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Isaiah Hartenstein on 2025 NBA Finals mindset: 'We want to go out and conquer'
Isaiah Hartenstein on 2025 NBA Finals mindset: 'We want to go out and conquer' Heavy is the head that wears the crown. Over the last three years, we've seen the Oklahoma City Thunder graduate from the young team that snuck up on contenders to contenders themselves that see opposition circle their date on the calendar well in advance. As the Thunder finished with a historic 68-14 record, that target only grew. But it didn't matter. They continued to be a winning machine. That translated over to the NBA playoffs as a Death Star that destroyed teams left and right en route to a 12-4 postseason record in the West. The Thunder enter the 2025 NBA Finals as the heavy favorite. While the Indiana Pacers have been a cute story these playoffs, most expect a quick series. That said, Isaiah Hartenstein iterated that they can't become complacent. What they did in the previous three rounds won't matter at basketball's biggest stage. "I think in the playoffs, you always have to prove yourself again. We're not a team that wants anything given to us. We want to go out and conquer, go out and hunt. For us, it doesn't matter what happened before. It doesn't matter even in a playoff series, it doesn't matter what happened before," Hartenstein said. "We're always trying to go out there and try to hunt. Not be the hunted ones. Trying to go out there and hunt ourselves." It'll be interesting to see Hartenstein's role in the NBA Finals. While he was never benched, his playing time dwindled against the Minnesota Timberwolves. To the point he didn't even start second halves in favor of smaller lineups with Alex Caruso and Isaiah Joe. The Pacers could force a similar predicament. They like to spray the ball out to the perimeter and have been one of the best outside shooting teams of the playoffs. Against a stretch big like Myles Turner, that could force the Thunder in an awkward situation where the seven-footer might get played off the floor. We'll have to wait and see. While everybody else can call this series over before Game 1 even tips off, the Thunder can't let that enter their mindset. The Pacers made the NBA Finals for a reason, albeit from a worse conference. But OKC will need to leave it all on the floor if it wants to avoid one of the biggest upsets ever.
USA Today
27-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
As playing time dwindles, Mark Daigneault says Thunder will need Isaiah Hartenstein
As playing time dwindles, Mark Daigneault says Thunder will need Isaiah Hartenstein As the Oklahoma City Thunder build a 3-1 series lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals, it's become loudly obvious that this is a series that favors the first seed to go small and play Chet Holmgren at center. That put Isaiah Hartenstein in an awkward spot. He's thrived with the Thunder and logged a career season as a double-double machine. OKC leaned on the double-big lineup for its go-to starters when healthy. But the NBA playoffs are all about matchups. Against the Timberwolves, Hartenstein has seen his playing time dwindle due to his poor matchup. He only played 16 minutes in Game 4. The Thunder went with Alex Caruso over Hartenstein to start the second half. The decision paid off for Mark Daigneault as OKC collected a close win over Minnesota. "We're going to need Hart. He's really impactful for us. We took a look at some different things defensively tonight by downsizing. We thought that would give us some offensive fluidity as well, which it did. But you know how these series go. Every game is different," Daigneault said. "That wasn't the plan going in. Play that small the entire game but the way the game was unfolding and the way we were able to get some of our stuff with the smaller lineups, we decided to stick with it." This might not be a preferable playoff series for Hartenstein, but he showed his worth against the Memphis Grizzlies and Denver Nuggets. Both had talented frontcourts that the seven-footer helped cancel out on the boards and in paint touches. Daigneault has talked all season about how seamless of a fit Hartenstein has been in their culture. Being able to play a smaller role against the Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals is the latest example of that. The big-time free agent addition has been well worth his expensive deal and then some.
DW
21-05-2025
- Sport
- DW
Hartenstein vying to become second German to win NBA title – DW – 05/21/2025
German basketball fans are getting their hopes up about the possibility of a second countryman winning an NBA title. Isaiah Hartenstein's Oklahoma City Thunder have reached the Western Conference finals. The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-88 on Tuesday night to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference finals. Isaiah Hartenstein, who is vying to become just the second German after Dirk Nowitzki to win an NBA title, had 12 points and 5 rebounds on the night. "At the beginning, we got the shots we wanted, we just didn't make them. A few layups missed," Hartenstein said post-match. "Once our offense found its footing, we took our game to the next level." 'NBA always No. 1' German fans are hoping that not only will he win this year's NBA title, but that he will represent Germany at the next Olympic Summer Games, Los Angeles 2028. "The NBA will always be No. 1 for me," Hartenstein has always said when asked about his future with the national team. This is why he missed out on German basketball's major successes in recent years: bronze at the 2022 European Championship, gold at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, and fourth place at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Isaiah Hartenstein is a key player for the Oklahoma City Thunder Image: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect Gordon Herbert, the man who guided Germany to those successes, had made it clear when he took the job in 2021, that he would only consider players who were committed to the national team. Hartenstein simply didn't meet Herbert's criteria. The last of his 19 appearances for Germany came in 2018. However, in an April interview with the German weekly SportBild, Hartenstein said he was still open to playing for his country. "I definitely want to play at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Regarding this year's European Championship and the 2027 World Cup, we'll have to see how far we get in the playoffs and how my body feels," he said. "The NBA always comes first for me." Father as a coach Hartenstein was born on May 5, 1998, in Eugene, Oregon, to a German father and an American mother. He holds dual citizenship, so he was also eligible to play for the United States. He chose Germany – the country where he grew up as a basketball player. When he was 11, his family moved to the small town of Quakenbrück in northern Germany, after his father Florian, a center, had signed to play for Bundesliga-Basketball club, the Artland Dragons. Florian later worked as a youth coach for the club, where one of his players was his son. "I put him at a guard position as a big man (213 cm, 7 ft) so he can work on dribbling, passing more. I think it helped him later on to be more versatile," Florian told the online portal "The Undefeated." Speaking out against racism Many initially didn't believe the two were father and son due to Florian Hartenstein's darker skin. "I know I am half-Black, but you can't really see by my skin tone," Isaiah Hartenstein told "The Undefeated." "Sometimes they laugh and say, 'It's not possible.' And then they see my dad and kind of say, 'OK, we understand.'" Isaiah Hartenstein, certainly isn't one to let racist comments go unchallenged. "I tell them that it is not right what they are saying," Hartenstein said. "Even if I wasn't part Black, it's not right. Everyone is their own person. It's not about skin color. It's about your personality, what's inside." Cashing in on free agency At 16, Isaiah Hartenstein played his first Bundesliga game for the Artland Dragons. In 2016, he moved to top Lithuanian club Zalgiris Kaunus. A year later, he declared for the NBA draft and was selected 43rd overall by the Houston Rockets. Hartenstein spent a year with the Rockets' farm team, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA G League before making his NBA debut in October 2018. Over the next few seasons, he also had stints with the Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, and the New York Knicks. In 2024 he signed as a free agent with the Oklahoma City Thunder. His 3-year, $87 million (€77 million) contract makes him one of Germany's best-earning athletes. The 27-year-old has a large image of Jesus tattooed on his right arm. "My faith is very important to me and gives me a lot of strength," Hartenstein told "SportBild." "When I was at the top and signed my contract with OKC, my faith helped me stay grounded." In mid-2023, the basketball star married US model and influencer Kourtney Kellar, and their son Elijah was born a year later. "For me, family comes first," he stressed. Even before the NBA. This article was originally published in German.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How OKC Thunder's Isaiah Hartenstein improved as Nikola Jokic's backup with Nuggets
If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Pricing and availability subject to change. Nikola Jokic, already one of the league's most physically imposing players, carried some extra weight as he moved around the Paycom Center floor. Attached to his hip was Isaiah Hartenstein, who mirrored the Serbian superstar's every move early in the fourth quarter of Game 1 between OKC and Denver on May 5. Advertisement When Jokic tried to free himself to catch a pass, Hartenstein remained glued to his jersey. When Jokic tried to pull up for a mid-range jumper, Hartenstein swiped down to dislodge the ball. And when Jokic regained control and tried a second shot, Hartenstein contested it enough to force a miss. It's not the first time Hartenstein has operated in Jokic's shadow. Before the two centers matched up in the second round of the NBA Playoffs, they were briefly teammates in Denver during the 2020-21 season. Jokic was already the face of the franchise, on the cusp of winning his first of three Most Valuable Player awards. And Hartenstein was the 22-year-old backup, eager to make the most of his limited role. "At the time, I was just looking for opportunity," Hartenstein told The Oklahoman. "It wasn't an easy time out there. But, in general, I wouldn't change it. Playing behind Jokic, I think in my career it helped a lot." Advertisement Thunder vs Nuggets report card: How did Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC grade in Game 4 win? When Hartenstein joined the Nuggets in late November 2020, he didn't have the tattoo sleeve that now covers his entire right arm. The only ink he had at the time was on his forearm. It includes an image of a basketball and a rim with the words "Make every day your own masterpiece" in the middle. Fitting for the young center, whose career was still a blank canvas. After being selected by the Houston Rockets in the second round (No. 43 overall) of the 2017 NBA Draft, Hartenstein spent most of his time in the G League. He dominated at that level, leading the Rio Grande Valley Vipers to a 2019 championship and winning Finals MVP. Advertisement Still, Hartenstein struggled to carve out a consistent role with the Rockets. The 7-footer didn't fit into their small-ball picture, and he was waived at the end of the 2019-20 season. Denver showed a strong interest. It needed a backup center following the departure of Mason Plumlee, who had signed with the Detroit Pistons. And while Hartenstein had other suitors, the chance to learn from Jokic was one of Denver's strongest selling points. He signed with the Nuggets on a two-year, $3.3 million deal. "He's an intelligent player," Hartenstein said of Jokic. "When you ask him questions, he's very open to responding. He takes the time to give you a good answer." Advertisement More: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder learned to 'rise to the occasion' vs Denver Nuggets Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) tries to get past Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) during Game 2 at Paycom Center on May 7. Jokic and Hartenstein were once teammates, which led to tremendous growth for Hartenstein. Most of those questions were about the way Jokic sees the game. A test of Jokic's DNA would likely reveal links to Arvydas Sabonis, Bill Walton and Wilt Chamberlain. A rare breed of centers who've transcended the position with their passing abilities. But it would also reveal a genetic mutation. One that gives Jokic an otherworldly ability to see plays before they happen. One that allows him to create open teammates, not find them, with defense-dissecting dimes. Jokic is widely considered the greatest passing big man in the history of basketball. And he was happy to assist Hartenstein, who now displays similar passing traits in his game. Advertisement "Learning from him helped my passing out a lot," Hartenstein said. "How selfless he is (stood out). He doesn't think he's better than anyone, even though most people in his position probably would. He's kind of similar to Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander). Both guys are very team-oriented." Learning from Jokic was a huge benefit to Hartenstein's time in Denver. But playing behind the superstar center also came with a downside. Jokic plays a lot of minutes. And that didn't leave many for Hartenstein, who averaged 3.5 points and 2.8 rebounds in just 9.1 minutes throughout 30 games. "It wasn't easy," Hartenstein said. "I think a lot of guys who've played behind him, it's been a little bit more difficult. And that's nothing against him. It's just that you have 8-10 minutes to show what you can do. For me, it was a little difficult because I thought I had to do everything right." Advertisement More: How Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein is trying to be crutch he had for next generation Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) and center Isaiah Hartenstein (25) celebrate a score in the second half against the Trail Blazers at Ball Arena in 2021. Denver ultimately dealt Hartenstein at the trade deadline that season. It sent him and two future second-round picks to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for JaVale McGee, who could serve as a more experienced backup to Jokic. It was yet another new destination for Hartenstein, who played out the rest of the campaign with Cleveland. He then spent one season with the Los Angeles Clippers. Then he spent two seasons with the New York Knicks. The life of an NBA journeyman has its challenges. But when Hartenstein left each team, he took something with him. Advertisement Hartenstein improved as a screener alongside James Harden in Houston, which has helped him now thrive next to Gilgeous-Alexander. He improved as a passer alongside Jokic in Denver, which has allowed OKC to sometimes use him as an offensive hub. And his improved preparation under Tom Thibodeau in New York helped him bring a veteran presence to the young Thunder. "I think every stop I had was very helpful," Hartenstein said. "I wouldn't trade it for anything." Hartenstein is now one of the more well-rounded centers in the league, and his days of struggling to earn minutes are behind him. That isn't lost on Jokic, who has admired his former teammate's ascension from afar. Advertisement "He's doing an amazing job," Jokic said after Game 1 on May 5. "He's always where he needs to be. He's attacking the offensive glass. He's setting great screens to open guys up. He has a really good touch or floater. ... I think he developed himself into a really good player." More: Nikola Jokic was off again in Game 4. This time, OKC Thunder didn't squander opportunity. Hartenstein averaged career highs of 11.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists during this regular season. He started in 53 of his 57 games, and he has held that role throughout these playoffs. A starting spot wasn't guaranteed by OKC executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti when he signed Hartenstein to a three-year, $87 million contract in free agency last offseason. But it didn't need to be. Advertisement After operating in the shadows earlier in his career, the opportunity to shine was all Hartenstein could ask for. "I just saw the team play, and I thought I could help the team out," Hartenstein said. "It feels great." NBA Playoffs: Thunder vs. Nuggets | Western Conference semifinals Best-of-seven; Games 5-7 if necessary. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Thunder vs Nuggets: Inside Isaiah Hartenstein's ties with Nikola Jokic
Newsweek
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Best Nuggets vs. Thunder Player Props, ATS Bets: Can Denver Stun OKC?
Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets are heavy underdogs on the road in Oklahoma City in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals. Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets are heavy underdogs on the road in Oklahoma City in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals. Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. After cruising past the Grizzlies in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, the Thunder (1) face a much trickier test vs. the Nuggets (4) in the Western Conference Semifinals. Despite Denver's 50-win regular season, the presence of three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and plenty of championship experience throughout the lineup, OKC is a massive favorite to not only win Game 1, but advance to the conference finals. The Thunder are so heavily favored that at DraftKings, this series is +140 to go over 5.5 total games and -170 to go under 5.5 total games. That's an implied probability of just under 63 percent that this will be either a four-game sweep or a gentleman's sweep. Below is a look at the schedule for Nuggets vs. Thunder: Game 1: May 5 Game 2: May 7 Game 3: May 9 Game 4: May 11 Game 5: May 13 Game 6: May 15 Game 7: May 18 Nuggets vs. Thunder Series Winner Odds DraftKings : DEN +500; OKC -700 : DEN +500; OKC -700 FanDuel: DEN +610; OKC -900 Nuggets vs. Thunder Game 1 Betting Odds DK FD bet365 DEN spread +9.5 (-110) +10 (-110) +10 (-110) OKC spread -9.5 (-110) -10 (-110) -10 (-110) DEN ML +330 +380 +350 OKC ML -425 -490 -450 Total 227 (o-110; u-110) 227 (o-110; u-110) 227 (o-110; u-110) How to Watch Nuggets vs. Thunder Game 1 Tipoff: 9:30 p.m. ET Channel: TNT/truTV/Max Best Nuggets vs. Thunder Player Props Isaiah Hartenstein 10+ Rebounds (+125 at bet365) -- 1 unit First of all, there's a ton of value here at +125, as this prop is listed at even money at FanDuel and +110 at DraftKings as of 3 p.m. ET on Monday afternoon. Hartenstein averaged 10.7 rebounds in an average of 27.9 minutes per game in the regular season. Given how much weight Chet Holmgren gives up to Jokic, expect Hartenstein to play 30-plus minutes per game in this series, as OKC does not have any bigs to throw at Jokic besides Holmgren and Hartenstein. Another reason to like Hartenstein to pile up the boards tonight is the success the Clippers' Ivica Zubac had on this front in the first-round series between the Clippers and Nuggets. Zubac and Hartenstein are similarly built (Zubac is listed at 7-foot, 240 pounds, while Hartenstein is listed at 7-foot, 255 pounds) and the former averaged 10.1 rebounds per game vs. Jokic and the Nuggets. He also pulled down at least 12 boards four times in that seven-game series. There are plenty of potent scorers and passers in this game, but Hartenstein to finish with double-digit boards feels like as good a prop bet as any in this matchup tonight. That's especially true given the fatigue factor with Denver coming off a Game 7 on Saturday night. OKC, on the other hand, has had nine days of rest after wrapping up its first-round sweep of Memphis on Saturday, April 26. Nuggets vs. Thunder Game 1 Pick, Best Bets Jokic and the Nuggets played well too against Oklahoma City in the regular season for me to take the Thunder to cruise tonight. The single biggest reason to like the Nuggets to at least keep this game close is the matchup between Jokic and Thunder centers Holmgren and Hartenstein. Jokic averaged 24.5 points, 15.8 rebounds and 11.5 assists per game in four regular-season matchups vs. the Thunder. On the surface, there's little reason to expect anything other than a huge night from the three-time MVP in Game 1. He finished the final DEN-OKC regular-season matchup this year (March 10) with 35 points, 18 rebounds and eight assists. Jokic shot 15-for-20 from the field in that game (14-for-18 on 2 pointers and 1-for-2 from outside). That includes 8-for-9 field goal shooting -- with three assists -- when matched up against Hartenstein, according to So, let's go with the well-rested Thunder to start out hot and cover the first-half spread, but the Nuggets to cover for the game as 9.5-point dogs. Nuggets vs. Thunder Game 1 Best Bets: Thunder 1H -5.5 (-108 at DraftKings) -- 0.5 units Nuggets +10 (-110 at FanDuel) -- 0.5 units Newsweek may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up through the links in this article. See the sportsbook operator's terms and conditions for important details. Sports betting operators have no influence over newsroom coverage.
