Thunder F/C Isaiah Hartenstein on OKC’s Special Season & SGA’s Unselfishness | The Rich Eisen Show

Thunder F/C Isaiah Hartenstein on OKC’s Special Season & SGA’s Unselfishness | The Rich Eisen Show

When did you realize that uh you were part of something special with the Thunder, Isaiah?
Um I think pretty pretty early on. Um I think coming in there coming into training camp. I mean before cuz I didn’t know how mature all the guys were. I mean I kind of knew it was a young team so you never know. But just seeing how mature they are were um the approach to the game. I think that’s when I kind of knew I knew we had the talent, but just seeing how mature they are, how the culture was there. Um I think it there was something special definitely there.
And what what led you to go to Oklahoma City? I imagine you had choices. Yeah, I think it was just a mixture of things. I mean, Sam Pressy has a has a great culture. He built out there. Um they’re first in the West the year before. Um just just playing style kind of fit me uh pretty good where was moving the ball um playing together. Um and then also I’m not going to lie, I think the money helped a little bit too.
Yeah, that’s right. That’s right. That’s right. You know, there are three eyes in Isaiah Hartenstein. I get it. I understand that. I totally understand it. Um, so when you’re, you know, going through the season, um, and you’re watching Shay Gilis Alexander do what he’s doing, did you, did you think right then and there this guy’s the MVP, uh, of the NBA, Isaiah? Yeah, I think probably I mean probably after probably probably like midway through the season I was like yeah the things he’s doing on a on a day-to-day basis was uh special. Um I mean he did it on both sides of the court too and that was a thing where he took pride in. Um he didn’t take plays off on both sides of the court wanted to play every game. Um, yeah. I think just the stuff he did was he made it look so easy too and it was never like a he never chased it. It was always very egoless in his approach to the game. Um, always team first and yeah, he was had definitely had a special season.
Well, I mean, you know what? Can you give me an example of how he was as a leader behind the scenes um
that that led to this run an 84 win season regular and post?
Isaiah.
Yeah, I mean I think it’s it’s a lot of different things. I mean, I think he also leads very much in just his approach to the game, how he carries himself, um, the work he puts in, and then just the he has like a like a calmness behind them that that we that just gives the the team confidence. Um, and then again, going back to the ego, like he just has no ego. I mean, I think the first couple games he passed me the ball and like I passed it out for an assist and I said like, “Sorry, like I’ll get you assist next time.” And he said like, “I don’t care. Just do whatever the team needs to win.” So, him not caring about the stats, him not caring, just wanting the team to win. I think that just leader-wise just made him pretty unique.
And the group interviews after games, right? Like everybody, it’s not just one person. Is that was that his idea, Isaiah?
No, I think I mean I wasn’t here when they first started it. I think it was um
both of the Jaylen Williams, so I think those two kind of started it. Um
but again, that that kind of shows what team kind of team we were. Um and it’s not fake. Like it’s not like we’re just doing it just for the publicity or we’re doing it. We just really just want to support our teammates. And I think that’s what made him special that we all had that genuine bond with each other.
What type of coach is Dno,
Isaiah? Uh he’s a great coach, but he’s like very good crazy in a sense.
What do you mean? like he would like show like he would show us like sometimes before games, before practices like like animals on like like hunting
like kind of like weird weird stuff like that where it’s like he kind of made it come over to like the basketball sense, but he’s he’s a great coach. The way he can motivate, the way he can um explains the game is very unique. um very stoic in that sense that gives us confidence too. Um he kind of instills that he says it all the time that zero zero mentality. Um we never want to be too high, too low. Um always want to be in the present moment and so just from a leader on and off the court. Um his in-game adjustments are great too. Uh yeah, he’s been one of my favorite coaches to play for so far. So, you’re saying Tom Tibido never showed any National Geographic videos of a leopard eating uh something before a game? That never happened,
Isaiah? That never happened?
No. No. Uh Tibs was great. He would always just show us a lot of a lot of game film. We would watch a lot a lot a lot of game film. I mean, Tibs was Tibs was great. Um he always made sure we were the most prepared team. So, yeah. But definitely no geographic videos with Tibs. Were you surprised?

Thunder C/F Isaiah Hartenstein and Rich Eisen discuss Oklahoma City’s NBA title and the selfless leadership of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Tune in to the Emmy-nominated Rich Eisen Show live for FREE on The Roku Sports Tune in to the Emmy-nominated Rich Eisen Show live for FREE on The Roku Sports Channel
at TheRokuChannel.com and also streaming on Audacy, and SiriusXM channel 375
weekdays from 12–3 PM ET!

Showcasing insightful sports expertise with an offbeat mix of humor and pop culture, The Rich Eisen Show attracts the most recognizable names in sports and entertainment.

Subscribe here to keep up with the internet’s best sports and pop culture commentary, interviews, and much more!

—— SUBSCRIBE HERE:
https://bit.ly/2VjWSBC

FOLLOW US HERE:
https://www.instagram.com/richeisenshow/
Tweets by RichEisenShow
https://www.facebook.com/RichEisenShow

@thericheisenshow

https://www.audacy.com/richeisen/listen

#richeisenshow #nba #okcthunder