Concern around the Oklahoma City Thunder’s frontcourt without Chet Holmgren has been all but nullified thanks to the return and stellar play of Isaiah Hartenstein.

Rebounding. Passing. Scoring. Blocking. Hartenstein has done all that at a high level and more in his five games this season.

In his first 24 seconds of action this season, Isaiah Hartenstein grabbed a defensive rebound, ran a dribble handoff with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, created a potential hockey-like assist for an Alex Caruso 3-pointer initiated by a short-roll pass to the corner,

Isaiah Hartenstein was a force in the paint in his 1st game with the Oklahoma City Thunder after recovering from a preseason hand fracture.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have seen Isaiah Hartenstein come in and make a massive impact on the court and clearly off of it. His basketball mind is an extension of the coach on the floor with superb organizational skills.

That depth of defenders combined with increased physicality is why Oklahoma City has the best defense in the league — and it has yet to play Hartenstein and Holmgren together (they haven’t been healthy at the same time). However, having just one of them back to clean things up at the rim lets those quality perimeter defenders be more aggressive.

Not only has Isaiah Hartenstein stuck the landing, but he landed on a first-class seat. Since his return from a fractured hand, Hartenstein has been a saving grace for the Thunder. Four games, four double-doubles and four wins.

In a recent interview, Isaiah Hartenstein commended Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams for helping him integrate into the team.