It’s only been a year, but it’s safe to say Isaiah Hartenstein is easily the Oklahoma City Thunder‘s best outside addition. They’d be a perfect match if this were an old-school dating game show. He had a career season on an NBA champion. Doesn’t get better than that.

The Thunder added Hartenstein with the hopes he’d help in their rebound and size department. Fair to say he did that. They went from one of the better teams in the league to a historically dominating squad that brought home the Larry O’Brien trophy.

As the Thunder prepare their NBA championship defense, they hope Hartenstein can replicate his double-double average from last season. He put up 11.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists. After being a backup for most of his career, he became a starter on the title winner.

Now, Hartenstein could be due for another massive payday. He has a $28.5 million team option for the 2026-27 season. It’s a coin flip on whether OKC picks it up or not. They could be forced to decline with their payroll multiplying tenfold as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren signed contract extensions this past offseason.

Hartenstein would prefer to stay on the Thunder, but you can’t fault him for going for money if that’s what happens. Either way, that’s tomorrow’s problem. For now, both sides think a productive 2025-26 season will be mutually beneficial.

“It’s been great. I think OKC’s been great for me and my family,” Hartenstein said. “I think we have the same values of giving back and being humbled.”

In the NBA, nothing lasts forever. Rosters continuously change over time. Look no further than this iteration of OKC. Since Gilgeous-Alexander was traded to the Thunder in 2019, only Lu Dort remains his sole teammate from his first season with the organization. And that was just five years ago.

Regardless of Hartenstein’s future, Sam Presti’s recruitment of him has been a grand-slam homer. The seven-footer made the contract he signed worth it in just his first season by being a starter on an NBA champion. That’s what you hope happens as a small-market franchise that rarely splurges in free agency.

Isaiah Hartenstein on entering his 2nd season on the Thunder: “OKC’s been great for me and my family. I think we have the same values of giving back and being humbled.” pic.twitter.com/ViNVrAtSya

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 3, 2025