Knicks Stars Playfully Troll Isaiah Hartenstein for Signing with OKC Thunder
It’s evident that Isaiah Hartenstein was cherished by his New York Knicks teammates.
During the “Roommates Show” podcast, former Knicks teammates Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson humorously teased Hartenstein for leaving New York for the Oklahoma City Thunder in free agency, demonstrating the strong bond they shared (via Bleacher Report’s Julia Stumbaugh).
“He’s dead to us,” Hart joked.
Brunson added, “He texted me, he was like, ‘Yo bro, appreciate everything killa.’ I was like, ‘Who’s this?’” (27:45 mark).
Strong Bonds Formed in a Short Time
Although Hartenstein, Hart, and Brunson didn’t spend three full seasons together, their overlapping tenures from 2022-23 to 2023-24 left a lasting impression. Hartenstein was a pivotal center, performing the essential tasks that help a team succeed—setting screens, grabbing rebounds, and more.
Admirable Play and Character
Hartenstein’s contributions, especially during the 2024 playoffs, were significant. He played a key role in maintaining a harmonious team culture, even praising teammate Precious Achiuwa while recovering from an Achilles injury. His humble approach earned respect, with starting center Mitchell Robinson even expressing willingness to come off the bench for him.
Brunson and Hart predicted Hartenstein’s impressive season would lead to a big payday, which it did. Hartenstein signed a three-year, $87 million deal with the Thunder. While his former teammates are happy for him, they’ll miss his presence on the court in the 2024-25 season.
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