Isaiah Hartenstein’s long-awaited return to Germany’s national team will have to wait.
The Oklahoma City Thunder center is dealing with an ankle injury, and after consulting with the team’s medical staff, he will sit out Germany’s upcoming FIBA 2027 World Cup Qualifiers window. That decision pulls him out of what had been shaping up as his first appearance for Germany since 2018.
Hartenstein had been on Germany’s preliminary roster, which made the possibility of a summer return feel real. Instead, the ankle issue pushed the Thunder and the German Basketball Federation toward a different path: rehab first, basketball later.
According to the latest press release from the German Basketball Federation, shared by BasketNews, Hartenstein will not compete for Germany during the upcoming FIBA 2027 World Cup Qualifiers window after consulting with Oklahoma City's medical staff. He is expected to stay around the German national team during the opening stages of training camp, even though he won’t be on the floor.
The move is all about protecting his long-term availability. Hartenstein and Germany determined that spending the summer focused on rehabilitation was the best option, with the goal of getting him ready for the NBA season ahead.
That’s a meaningful turn for a player who just signed on for the long haul in Oklahoma City. One month ago, Hartenstein agreed to a three-year, $75 million contract to remain with the Thunder.
The injury interrupts a strong season in Oklahoma City, where he played 47 games and posted 9.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and one steal in 24.2 minutes per game. He remained a key part of the rotation as the Thunder tried to defend their 2025 NBA championship.
That repeat push ended in May, when Oklahoma City lost to the San Antonio Spurs in a seven-game Western Conference Finals series.
Hartenstein’s impact went well beyond the box score. His rebounding, screening, passing and interior presence fit neatly alongside the Thunder’s core, which is a big reason the team moved quickly to keep him this offseason.
Now, instead of suiting up for Germany, he’ll spend the summer working his way back from the ankle injury and preparing for Oklahoma City’s 2026-27 campaign. For Hartenstein, the wait for a Germany comeback stretches to eight years.
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