The OKC Thunder are playing as good as anyone through these first 20 games of the 2024-25 season.
At 15-5, the reigning number one seeds in the Western Conference standings once again find themselves in command of the coveted top slot, and, considering their 103.6 defensive rating and 10.1 net rating (best and second-best marks in the association, respectively), they've done so while playing some of the game's best two-way ball.
Yet, despite their successes and advanced metric excellence, this team still finds itself showcasing some serious weaknesses on a nightly basis.
Fortunately, ahead of Tuesday's bout against the Utah Jazz, it appears big man Isaiah Hartenstein has been putting in the time and effort to help address one of their biggest on-court flaws.
Thunder big Isaiah Hartenstein seen practicing long-range shooting
At their game-day shoot around, The Thunder Wire's Clemente Almanza captured a recording of Hartenstein working on his skills as a floor-spacer, taking and making shots from beyond the arc with several members of the Thunder's staff.
Isaiah Hartenstein spent time at today’s shootaround working on his 3-point shot pic.twitter.com/7eC13hj6dJ
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) December 3, 2024
Though best known as a traditional pivot who provides sound rim-running abilities and elite roll-man work in the P&R, throughout his seven-year professional career Hartenstein has displayed a smooth shooting form from the mid-range and, from time to time, has even extended beyond the arc. For his career, he sports a 30.7 percent clip from deep.
Now, in preparation for the final day of NBA Cup group play, it seems he's specifically honing in on his craft from distance, and, quite frankly, the Thunder could use any help they can get from this area on offense.
After leading the entire league in three-point shooting in 2023-24 with a highly efficient clip of 38.9 percent, Oklahoma City has plummeted drastically in this department in their follow-up campaign, as they boast a lackluster conversion rate of 34.4 percent, ranking them 21 in the NBA.
What's more demoralizing about this lowly productivity is the fact that Sam Presti and company even added some extra snipers to their arsenal, specifically with the trade for elite 3-and-D specialist Alex Caruso (37.3 career clip from deep) and the selection of hidden-gem rookie Ajay Mitchell at 38 overall in this past June's draft (shot 39.3 percent from deep his final season at UC Santa Barbara).
Hopefully, as time goes on and players start to regain their health (i.e. Caruso, Chet Holmgren, etc.) better days from beyond the arc will follow.
Until then, however, coach Mark Daigneault will be looking for all the help he can get in the three-point game, and, based on this unearthed video, it appears Isaiah Hartenstein may be looked toward to become a contributor from deep.