The Oklahoma City Thunder hold the best record in the entire NBA, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is leading the way once again.
However, Isaiah Hartenstein’s contributions should not be overlooked.
The Thunder big man is playing a pivotal role for a team that is finding no shortage of success.
The 27-year-old joined Oklahoma City for the 2024-25 campaign and immediately provided a positive impact on the roster. He ended up helping the Thunder en route to the 2025 NBA Finals, and, though he was not the best player on the team by any means, the ball club won a championship with his key contributions.
Hartenstein is arguably making an even bigger impact so far in the 2025-26 NBA season, however.
Isaiah Hartenstein has played a key role in Thunder success
Hartenstein is currently averaging 12.2 points per contest while shooting an incredibly efficient 67.1 percent from the field. He’s also recording just under 11 rebounds per game.
Hartenstein has been a respectable playmaker for the Thunder as well, as he is averaging 3.4 assists per outing.
Above everything, the underlying statistics further prove Hartenstein’s immense value to the Thunder.
When it comes to player impact estimate (PIE), Hartenstein’s 15.8 mark trails only Gilgeous-Alexander on the Thunder’s roster. The big man leads the team in true shooting percentage (67.8), effective field goal percentage (67.1), and rebounding percentage (18.9).
In actuality, Hartenstein does not take many shots beyond a few feet from the basket. His strong shooting efficiency is not surprising as a result.
Still, he is getting the job done from within the painted area.
Hartenstein’s rebounding has been a difference-maker for this OKC squad. His 10.7 rebounds per game average is by far the best mark on the team, as Chet Holmgren is second at 7.9.
Hartenstein is also capable of cleaning up the glass on both the offense and defensive ends of the floor.
The Thunder’s roster is deep and features a quality mixture of stars and depth players. One has to wonder where they would be without Isaiah Hartenstein, though. He has been an especially reliable player despite his production sometimes being overlooked.
Hartenstein is quickly becoming one of the most underrated players in the league, but the Thunder know how valuable he is to their success.
The veteran center will look to continue playing at a high level as the Thunder hope to repeat as NBA Champions this season.