The Oklahoma City Thunder have been rolling through the season with one of the youngest, most dynamic rosters in the league-but they’ve been doing it without a key piece in the middle. Since December 29, Isaiah Hartenstein has been sidelined after re-aggravating a right calf strain that’s lingered throughout the year. And while OKC doesn’t build its identity around crashing the glass, there’s no denying how much they’ve missed his presence.
Before the injury bug bit again, Hartenstein had appeared in just 24 games. But in those outings, he made his impact felt-averaging 11.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 3 assists per game, all while shooting an impressive 64.4% from the field. That kind of efficiency and activity around the rim doesn’t just pad the stat sheet-it shapes the way the Thunder can play, especially when he shares the floor with Chet Holmgren.
Oklahoma City isn’t a team that lives or dies by second-chance points. Their offense is built more on pace, spacing, and shot creation from their versatile guards and wings.
But when Hartenstein is healthy and logging big minutes, he adds a layer of versatility to the frontcourt that few teams in the league can match. He gives them a true interior presence who can battle on the boards, finish efficiently, and facilitate from the post when needed.
And now, there’s finally some good news on that front. Over the weekend, Hartenstein took a visible step toward returning to action. He went through a personal workout following the team’s shootaround ahead of their game against the Miami Heat-a clear sign that progress is being made.
Head coach Mark Daigneault had high praise for the way Hartenstein has approached his rehab process.
“He’s just a pro,” Daigneault said. “Even if you look at his NBA career, he’s had a lot of different experiences that he’s had to endure.
He applies all of those experiences to the circumstances he’s in at any given moment. He does a great job of being present in whatever is going on, including right now.”
That kind of mindset matters-especially for a team with championship aspirations and a roster full of young talent still learning how to navigate the grind of an NBA season. Having a veteran big who brings toughness, professionalism, and production is no small thing.
And the numbers tell the story. From the start of the season through November 26-before Hartenstein’s first injury-the Thunder ranked 15th in the league in rebound percentage.
Since his second absence began on December 29? They’ve plummeted to 29th.
That’s a massive drop-off, and it’s not just a statistical quirk-it’s showing up in the win-loss column.
Take their recent game against the Heat. Miami isn’t exactly a rebounding powerhouse themselves (they rank 23rd in rebound percentage over that same stretch), yet they still won the battle on the boards 51-46-and edged out OKC on the scoreboard, 122-120.
Those extra possessions matter, especially in tight games. And that’s exactly where Hartenstein’s value shines.
Jaylin Williams has stepped in and given the Thunder solid minutes in the frontcourt, but he doesn’t bring the same rebounding edge or interior presence. Hartenstein’s ability to extend possessions on the offensive glass and anchor the paint on defense gives Oklahoma City an edge they’ve been missing.
There’s still no official word on when he’ll be back in the lineup, but it’s clear the Thunder are inching closer to getting one of their most important players back. And with the playoff race heating up, his return couldn’t come at a better time.
For a team that’s already exceeded expectations this season, adding a healthy Hartenstein back into the mix might be just what they need to level up again.