Wednesday night the OKC Thunder finally saw their new $87 million free agency addition return to the hardwood, as Isaiah Hartenstein took part in his regular-season debut with the franchise after a month-long, injury-induced delay.
Coming back just in the nick of time, as they were fresh off two straight losses and were facing off against the big and bulky Portland Trail Blazers, the 7-footer's addition to the lineup seemingly proved invaluable on both ends of the floor.
From his defensive efforts to his board gobbling abilities, Hartenstein was a godsend of a contributor during his 28 minutes of action, registering an impressive stat line of 13 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 blocks on 50.0 percent shooting from the field.
Of course, as has consistently been the case through his career, the impact that the 26-year-old had on the club's 109-99 win expanded far beyond just the box score. I-Hart has made a career for himself by providing under-the-radar intangibles that don't necessarily show up on the stat sheet, with perhaps his most noteworthy attribute being screen-setting.
With his enviable height coupled with a hulking 250-pound build, the center is a luxury to have in the pick-and-roll and has excelled in such sets while running alongside several high-profile players.
Before signing on with the Thunder this summer, All-Star Jalen Brunson was his most recent counterpart with this type of play over his two-year stint with the Knicks.
The duo came across a great deal of success, ranking in the top 10 in points generated off the pick-and-roll both years together. Yet, despite these accomplishments, Hartenstein couldn't help but gush over his new P&R cohort Shai Gilgeous-Alexander when describing their differences during his post-game press conference.
Isaiah Hartenstein talks pick-and-roll with new Thunder counterpart
" different players. I think with every player they kind of have different tendencies. Jalen was kind of more slower paced... Sometimes Shai doesn't even need a screen so it's kind of figuring out how to set them. Again, that will come with time. It was the first game. We've got to keep talking. It's going to keep getting better and better," Hartenstein said.
The point made when saying SGA "doesn't even need a screen" is not only a testimony to how effective he is in isolation but, also, indicative of just how often a guy like Brunson has played into the pick-and-roll game.
Last season alone, with Hartenstein in the fold the Knicks star's frequency of serving as a handler in such sets was roughly 41 percent. On top of this, he ultimately went on to lead the league in pick-and-roll points generated with 852.
Gilgeous-Alexander, meanwhile, didn't even crack the top-50 in frequency in 2023-24 and trailed Brunson in points in the P&R by nearly 200 (661).
Now, of course, this discrepancy has largely been influence by the fact that the Thunder star has four inches in height over Brunson, thus making it easier for him to navigate without a proper screener.
Still, considering he finished fourth in scoring last year (30.1) and is currently seventh (28.7) all while predominantly playing without a trusty screen-setter like Hartenstein, it's exciting to think about how much greater his offensive efficiency and overall scoring dominance can become.