NBA 2K’s latest release delivered a brutal surprise. Isaiah Hartenstein, who played a vital role in the OKC Thunder during last season's title run, received a defensive attribute rating of just 65.
For those who watched his nightly impact, such a rank feels out of step with reality.
By the numbers, Hartenstein was one of the league’s most effective defenders in 2024-25. He finished the regular season with a defensive rating of 105.3, the best mark among Thunder regulars and firmly within the group of top defensive big men in the NBA.
That metric reflects not only rim protection but also the ability to guard in space, communicate through actions, and maintain the structure of a top-five defense.
What Thunder fans saw each night was a player capable of holding down the paint when Chet Holmgren missed time, switching onto quicker guards without being exposed, and rotating in ways that prevented breakdowns.
It was subtle, unspectacular work, but it consistently tilted possessions in Oklahoma City’s favor.
Thunder big Isaiah Hartenstein is a criminally underrated defender
The 2K rating, in that context, highlights a broader pattern more than it creates one. Around the league, Hartenstein is often discussed for his passing touch, floater game, and energy on the glass. His defensive intelligence, however, has rarely drawn national attention.
That gap between perception and reality is where a 65 defensive grade fits neatly.
It does not tell the whole story, but it mirrors how underappreciated his defensive role remains outside of Oklahoma City.
For Thunder fans, the disconnect is striking.
They watched him step into critical minutes, disrupt stars on switches, and communicate through coverages. They understand his defense as a central part of the championship run.
Yet the broader narrative, reinforced now by a video game attribute, continues to cast him as a serviceable big rather than one of the league’s most underrated defenders.
This matters because perception often shapes conversation. Video games are more than entertainment for younger fans, but can serve as an entry point into how players are valued.
When a defender with elite metrics is graded as below average, it subtly reinforces a storyline that he is replaceable rather than indispensable. It becomes part of the broader discourse that undervalues defensive nuance in favor of flair.
In Oklahoma City, the truth feels different. Hartenstein was a backbone defender, the kind of player who gave the Thunder the flexibility to throw multiple looks at stars throughout a playoff series. He earned the trust of teammates and coaches with his IQ and effort, attributes that will again be essential in a season where every possession will be scrutinized.
So while the rating may sting, it ultimately tells the same story we already know -- Isaiah Hartenstein is one of the most underrated defenders in the NBA.
The numbers show it, the film shows it, and anyone in Oklahoma City could tell you the same.