Oklahoma City Thunder Takes the Lead
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-88 on Tuesday evening to take the lead 1-0 in the final of the Best-of-Seven-Western Conference. Isaiah Hartenstein, who is only the second German to win an NBA title, had 12 points and 5 rebounds at night.
Post-Game Analysis
"In the beginning, we had the shots we wanted, we just didn’t make them. A few layups missed it," said Hartenstein after the game. "As soon as our offense found its foundation, we brought our game to the next level."
NBA Priority
German fans hope that he will not only win this year’s NBA title, but that he will also represent Germany at the next Summer Olympics, Los Angeles 2028. "The NBA will always be number 1 for me," said Hartenstein whenever he was asked about his future with the national team. For this reason, he has missed the most important successes of German basketball in recent years: bronze at the European Championship 2022, Gold at the FIBA basketball world championship, and fourth place at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Background and Career
Hartenstein was born on May 5, 1998, in Eugene, Oregon, the son of a German father and an American mother. He has double citizenship, so he was also entitled to play for the United States. He chose Germany – the country in which he grew up as a basketball player. When he was 11 years old, his family moved to the small town of Quakenbrück in northern Germany after his father Florian, a center, signed to play for the Bundesliga basket club, the Artland Dragons. Florian later worked as a youth coach for the club, where one of his players was his son.
Speaking Against Racism
At first, many did not believe that the two were father and son due to the darker skin of Florian Hartenstein. "I know that I’m half black, but you can’t really see my skin tone," said Isaiah Hartenstein. "Sometimes they laugh and say: ‘It is not possible.’ And then you see my father and say: ‘Ok, we understand.’" Isaiah Hartenstein is certainly not one to let racist comments go unchallenged. "I tell you that it is not right what you say," said Hartenstein. "Even if I wasn’t black, it is not right. Everyone is their own person. It’s not about skin color. It’s about your personality what is in it."
Career Advancement
At 16, Isaiah Hartenstein played his first Bundesliga game for the Artland Dragons. In 2016 he moved to the Lithuanian club in Zalgiris Kaunus Zalgiris Kaunus. A year later he declared for the NBA draft and was selected by the Houston Rockets 43. Hartenstein spent a year with the Rockets’ farm team, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA G League before celebrating his NBA debut in October 2018. In the next seasons, he also had stints with the Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, and the New York Knicks. In 2024 he signed as a Free Agent at Oklahoma City Thunder. His 3-year contract of $87 million (77 million euros) makes him one of the best-earned athletes in Germany.
Personal Life
The 27-year-old has a great picture of Jesus who is tattooed on his right arm. "My belief is very important to me and gives me a lot of strength," said Hartenstein. "When I was at the top and signed my contract with OKC, my belief helped me to stay grounded." In mid-2023, the basketball star married the US model and influencer Kourtney Kellar, and her son Elijah was born a year later. "For me, the family comes first," he emphasized. Even before the NBA.
