A short offseason meant less time for the Oklahoma City Thunder to spend serious time together. That’s the one tax NBA champions gladly pay every summer. That said, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein made the most of their three months as they enter their second year together.

A couple of social media videos that went viral were of Holmgren and Hartenstein in the same gym. The former would work on his on-ball creation at the perimeter. Meanwhile, the latter backed him down in the deep post for some signature floaters.

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While injuries shortened their time together in the regular season last year, Holmgren and Hartenstein played plenty of minutes together in the playoffs. The Thunder leaned on their double-big lineup to bring home the Larry O’Brien trophy.

As NBA training camp continues along, OKC has liked what it’s seen from Holmgren and Hartenstein so far. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault talked about the two seven-footers and what they accomplished despite such a short summer.

“They look really good. They came in here in great shape and in great mental condition. They’re ready for the start of the season. They love basketball. They worked really hard this summer,” Daigneault said. “There’s tangible improvements to their bodies and tangible improvements to their games. And the fact that they were working out together was really cool.”

If the Thunder hope to repeat as NBA champions, Holmgren and Hartenstein will need to be two of their six most important players. Both give OKC enough talent and strength at a vital frontcourt position that’s deep across the Western Conference.

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This is why Holmgren and Hartenstein needed to spend time together in the offseason. Even after they brought home a ring. You can’t shrug your shoulders and enter the regular season with a laissez-faire approach or risk being caught by surprise against other teams.

“That’s not an arranged marriage. They’re choosing to do that on their own,” Daigneault said. “Which is really neat to see them collaborate like that this early in their tenure.”

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Mark Daigneault excited over Holmgren-Hartenstein offseason workouts