OKC gives Hartenstein $75M to anchor title push
OKC locks in elite rim protection and size for years, ending any talk of a rebuild and signaling championship intent.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are all-in. Isaiah Hartenstein is staying put on a three-year, $75 million deal through 2028-29, per ESPN. The Thunder are paying up to keep Hartenstein’s elite rim protection and physicality alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren.
3 rebounds in 2023-24 while anchoring a defense that ranked fifth in the NBA. His ability to switch onto guards and anchor in the paint made him a matchup nightmare for opponents. The Thunder finished 57-25, good for the second seed in the West, and reached the Western Conference Finals.
The deal cements OKC’s identity as a team built for playoff . Hartenstein’s contract reflects the Thunder’s shift from rebuilding to contending. General manager Sam Presti secured a player who can protect the rim, set screens, and space the floor without needing the ball.
