Isaiah Hartenstein has been playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder, one of the favorites on the NBA title since this season. In an exclusive Sport1 interview, the German talks about duels to Nikola Jokic, who reveals national team and reveals how he reacted to the Doncic trade.
He is the German power block under the basket of the Oklahoma City Thunder: Isaiah Hartenstein plays his first season with the outstanding team of the Western Conference in the NBA – and the 2.13 meter model athlete plays really well.
On average, the center forward puts on 11.1 points, 11.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 28 minutes. Thanks to him, the Thunder are at the top with 54 wins and only 12 defeats in the west.
Isaiah Hartenstein is one of the most important columns at OKC
Sport1 spoke exclusively with the 26-year-old about title opportunities, the national team and the trade hammer around Luka Doncic.
Hartenstein not surprised by success
Sport1: Isaiah Hartenstein, the Oklahoma City Thunder are the clear number one in the Western Conference. To what extent are you surprised how well it works?
Isaiah Hartenstein: Not that much. Before I came here, I knew how good the team was. Last season they were number one and I think many have learned something. And the new players, like Alex Caruso and I, help the team very much. We just have to continue to grow and prepare for the playoffs.
Sport1: Okc will of course be a co -favorite under the conditions. How realistic is the title?
Hartenstein: For us it is only a matter of watching every day. You can’t look ahead too much, you really have to work every day, prepare yourself every day.
That is why an extension in New York failed
Sport1: You played for the New York Knicks last year, were one of the audience favorites in Madison Square Garden. Why didn’t it work in New York with a contract extension?
Hartenstein: There were a few things. Due to the NBA contract work, the Knicks could only pay me a certain amount (according to the employment collective agreement concluded between the league and the collective agreement between the league and the collective agreement, New York Hartenstein was able to offer a four-year contract for $ 72.5 million/ note ). And then there was the mix of OKC, whose offer (Hartenstein signed for three years and $ 87 million $ 87 million.
Sport1: Oklahoma is the smallest market in the league according to New Orleans and Memphis and the Thunder are the city’s only professional team. How does it live there as a NBA professional?
Hartenstein: really good. The people there love basketball, the fans support us very much. I think, even if it is a small market, it doesn’t matter. Because if you win games, you are a little bigger than the market.
NBA champion? So Isaiah Hartenstein estimates the chances
Sport1: You have been in the NBA for several years and have already witnessed trades. Dennis Schröder recently referred to this trade system as “modern slavery”. What do you say about the AC change?
Hartenstein: It’s a business. We make so much money and these trades come with this business. Sure, especially if you have a family, you can see it a little differently. But, at the end of the day, it is only business and so you have to see it.
Doncic? “I thought it was fake”
Sport1: An incredible trade was that of Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers. Where were you when you found out about it and how was your first reaction?
Hartenstein: I almost went to sleep, someone had sent it to our chat group. And first I thought that the fake was and not true. But the NBA is a business, everyone can be traded. And that’s why you sometimes have to look more at yourself as a player. Sure, at the beginning of the season it always means ‘Team First’. But if you negotiate contracts with them, you have to look at yourself because you never know what can happen.
Sport1: You were – or had to – recently played against Nikola Jokic twice. What is it like to measure yourself with one of the best?
Hartenstein: Good. Of course, it is always a challenge. Even if you play a good defensive, it is so good that he still plays a good game. But we have a player who is so. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander it is exactly the same. With that it doesn’t matter what the opponents do against him, he still makes a good game.
Hartenstein in a duel with superstar Nikola Jokic
Sport1: Let’s come to the national team. What are the chances that you will play at the European Championship for Germany in summer?
Hartenstein: We have to see how far we get into the playoffs with OKC. And before that I said that the NBA always comes first for me. But I definitely want to play at the Olympics.
Hartenstein in the father-happiness: “To see him smile is something special”
Sport1: You started at Ratiopharm Ulm as an investor at the end of last year. What is the idea behind this commitment?
Hartenstein: I just wanted to be part of a club that develops players, players sending into the NBA. So an association where I would also want to play as a young player. And Ulm was perfect for me. I want to return to German basketball more and more. And I think they do a really good job in Ulm – and I just want to help you.
Sport1: You can also help at home. They became a father for the first time, son Elijah was born in May. How do you like the role?
Hartenstein: It’s a really great thing for me. Coming home, seeing him smile is always something special.
Sport1: Being a NBA professional naturally also means traveling a lot. As a result, they sometimes do not see their son for several days. How hard is this challenge?
Hartenstein: This is definitely difficult, especially if you have away games for 14 days. I have already said to my wife that this is the first time that I miss someone very, very much (laughs).