The New York Knicks‘ exciting offseason took a hit on Monday with the departure of center Isaiah Hartenstein. The 26-year-old is heading to the Oklahoma City Thunder, but he expressed his gratitude and affection for New York in a heartfelt Instagram post.
“NYC thank you for taking my family in and making my time there so special,” Hartenstein wrote. “Every time I went out on the court I always gave it my all for the city and I felt the love right back. NYC will always have a special place in my heart. All love #foe.”
Knicks center Mitchell Robinson responded to the post with a bittersweet comment, saying, “Love and will miss you bro. Thank you for everything you put into the team.”
Hartenstein’s two seasons in New York saw him significantly raise his stock, particularly last year when he filled in for an injured Robinson. The 2017 second-round pick set career-highs in starts (49), minutes per game (25.3), rebounds per game (8.3), and steals per game (1.2).
In Oklahoma City, Hartenstein is expected to pair nicely with second-year standout Chet Holmgren in the Thunder’s frontcourt. The team’s system might also help unlock Hartenstein’s playmaking abilities, an aspect of his game that was underutilized in New York. According to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, “Hartenstein was one of just three players last season with at least 85 blocks and 85 steals, and he held opponents to shooting below 53% at the rim. Along with elite defense, Hartenstein possesses impressive vision and playmaking ability for a center, although that aspect of his game didn’t feature prominently in Tom Thibodeau’s offensive system.”
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Despite not being able to showcase all his skills, Hartenstein still had memorable moments with the Knicks, developing a reliable mid-range floater that became a signature move. This shot, learned from his father who was a pro in Germany, made him a reliable secondary option for Jalen Brunson on offense.
“Hartenstein learned this shot from his dad, who was an old-school, bruising big man and wanted Isaiah to have much more skill than him,” The Athletic’s Fred Katz reported. “So from a young age, he made him work on his floater. Made sure he honed it. That’s some smart parenting right there.”
While New York lost a significant piece, Hartenstein’s unique skill set could provide the Thunder with the extra push they need to reach their goals. His combination of defense, playmaking, and a near-automatic floater will be missed by Knicks fans, but they can take solace in knowing they played a part in his growth and development.
