The Oklahoma City Thunder have been electric this season. They are 18-5 and atop the Western Conference with an upcoming NBA Cup knockout contest against the Dallas Mavericks. The arrival of Alex Caruso in a trade that sent Josh Giddey to the Chicago Bulls has proven beneficial for the club.
However, the signing of Isaiah Hartenstein from the New York Knicks has provided a safety net that has already been needed. Chet Holmgren fell with an injury that will keep him sidelined for over two months, and Jaylin Williams has yet to make his season debut.
Hartenstein has been phenomenal holding things down in the paint with no other healthy center on the roster. He's been an anchor both defensively and offensively, providing vertical spacing as he and Jalen Williams have developed quite stellar chemistry in the pick-and-roll game.
One unique aspect of Hartenstein's game is his passing. Sometimes it's flashy, sometimes it's not, but it's consistent. He'll find guys going backdoor as a cutter or perfectly deliver a ball on a dribble handoff. Caruso was sure to praise the center's passing for the Thunder. Along the way, he was sure to be highly complimentary of Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic.
"He's a phenomenal passer. People don't talk about him as a passer as a big in the league. Obviously Jokic is in a category of his own," Caruso said. "That's a different guy. Not many bigs in the league can pass it and have the ball skills he has."
Hartenstein is a great passer and maintains the fluidity of the Thunder's system with his ability to move the ball around. However, Jokic is certainly in a tier of his own. He's the best passing big man in the league.
In no way is Caruso comparing Harenstein to Jokic, but the 7-footer has certainly provided what the Thunder have needed from the center position and more.
Copyright 2024 Athlon Sports. All rights reserved.
This story was originally published December 10, 2024, 2:47 PM.