Isaiah Hartenstein’s Rise from Jokic’s Backup to OKC’s Anchor
It’s wild to think that just a few years ago, Isaiah Hartenstein was fighting for minutes as a backup to Nikola Jokic in Denver. Fast forward to now, and he’s not just starting for the Oklahoma City Thunder—he’s become one of the most effective big men in the playoffs. Watching him go toe-to-toe with Jokic in this OKC vs. Denver series is kind of poetic, right? Full circle stuff.
Back in the 2020-21 season, Hartenstein was just a 22-year-old trying to break through. He didn’t have the full sleeve of tattoos yet, just some ink on his forearm that read “Make every day your own masterpiece.” It’s fitting, because his career really was a blank canvas at that point. Playing behind Jokic wasn’t easy—Jokic was logging heavy minutes and dominating the offense, which didn’t leave much opportunity for Hartenstein to showcase his own game. But he made the most of that time, studying Jokic’s style, soaking in how the MVP thought about passing, positioning, and team play.
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And now, that influence shows. You can see flashes of Jokic in Hartenstein’s passing, in his decision-making. But it’s not a copy-paste situation—Hartenstein has developed his own game. He’s tougher, more physical, and has become a true anchor in OKC’s system. During this playoff run, he’s been doing it all—setting strong screens, grabbing offensive boards, protecting the rim, and facilitating from the post. Game after game, he’s proving he belongs on this stage.
He’s also incredibly consistent. Just look at his playoff stat line: averaging double-digit points, double-digit rebounds, and filling up the box score with assists, steals, and blocks. In Game 5, he dropped 15 points, 7 boards, and added defensive contributions that helped OKC maintain their edge in the series. He’s not just holding his own against Jokic—he’s actively making Jokic work.
What’s really impressive is the journey. Hartenstein went from being a G League MVP with Houston’s affiliate, to bouncing between Cleveland, the Clippers, the Knicks, and now landing in OKC. Each stop added a layer to his game. Screening with Harden, passing with Jokic, preparing under Thibodeau—every experience molded him into this version we’re seeing now.
And let’s not forget, he wasn’t promised a starting role when he signed that three-year, $87 million deal with OKC. But he earned it. He saw the potential in this team and believed he could help. And now, he’s doing just that on the biggest stage.
Isaiah Hartenstein may have started in Jokic’s shadow, but now he’s casting one of his own—and the basketball world is taking notice.
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