According to SNY’s Ian Begley, it was a tough decision for Isaiah Hartenstein to leave New York, where he had a breakout season that led to this major deal.
“It was a tough decision for Hartenstein: He loved the city, he loved his teammates, he loved the organization and what happened here last year. If this wasn’t a team in Oklahoma City ready to compete, maybe it would have been different. The idea that Hartenstein could go compete for a title in OKC influenced his decision. The Knicks certainly made things difficult, according to people familiar with the matter,” Begley said on X, formerly Twitter.
Hartenstein ultimately had to make the smart decision to accept the best offer on the table.
In 64 appearances, including this season’s playoffs, Hartenstein shined in New York, averaging 9.1 rebounds, 8.6 points, 3.2 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks.