The ongoing season has given Isaiah Hartenstein the chance to deliver the best performance of his overall NBA career. After averaging just 7.8 points during the previous season, the Center is now averaging 11.8 points to accompany the 12.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists he has been scoring at least per game, over the last 24 matchups. As highlighted by ‘Thunderous Intentions’, “Hartenstein has quickly become a favorite among both fans and team personnel”. It’s a feeling that the player certainly needed after his poor track record with the Houston Rockets and the LA Clippers. However, as Hartenstein recently revealed, that experience was needed to get him where he is today.

Isaiah Hartenstein spoke after Oklahoma City Thunder’s 118-108 win against Portland Trail Blazers. The game marked the player’s return after a strained left calf forced him to miss 5 previous matchups. Hartenstein made up for the absence by going on a double-double run! During the presser, a reporter compared the Center’s current performance and the one from his previous seasons.

When asked if the player noticed the change at some point, Hartenstein recalled how he struggled to find his role during his early years. It didn’t materialize too quickly enough during his tenure with the Houston Rockets. Therefore, “I worked on it a lot. Instead of just blaming the coach for not playing me, it was more ‘what can I do to get on the court?’, and I worked on those things. So now, like defense and rebounding went from like a weakness now to a strength of mine.”

While Hartenstein strived to improve by himself, he also received the guidance of one particular head coach during the ordeal.

“I mean, it kind of started all probably with Ty Lue, with the Clippers” Hartenstein revealed. “I mean, he really he really gave me a chance he really kind of let me play my game. But again, I wouldn’t be at that position if I didn’t have to go through the things with the Rockets. And so, yeah I think even though the Rockets wasn’t the experience I thought it was going to be, I wouldn’t change it for anything cuz it helped me get to where I am today.”

Isaiah Hartenstein was traded to the LA Clippers back in September 2021. He was joining the LA franchise after going on a poor run alongside the Denver Nuggets but improved his stats with the Cleveland Cavaliers. When asked about the shift, Hartenstein highlighted being optimistic. He said, “I love the organization, I love my teammates, I think that has made it a lot easier, especially playing for Ty Lue.”

He was right to feel this way. After all, with Ty Lue’s team, the Center went on to establish his then-best NBA season. He made his greatest number of appearances in an annual NBA tournament (68 games). Along with that, he averaged a career-high 8.3 points to go with his 4.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists. His field goal percentage jumped from 55% to 62.6%, and his three-point shooting improved from 33.3% to 46.7%. Even his free-throw percentage went up from 64.8% to 68.9%. Even during his tenure with the Clippers, Hartenstein did not underestimate Ty Lue’s contribution to his development. As highlighted by LWOS, the Center “said that Lue is the best coach he ever played for and the first coach who has truly believed and bought into him as a player.”

‘The Athletic’ reporter Fred Katz highlighted that the Clippers transformed the struggling center into a defensive-minded, pass-first staple. That too inside a stellar second unit. Hartenstein’s time with the Clippers was so memorable that he reportedly insisted to continue playing for the team. Unfortunately, the Clippers were reportedly limited in how much it could offer the budding center. As a result, Hartenstein had to switch to the New York Knicks. Fortunately, Hartenstein’s former head coach did not choose this decision as a point of resentment.

Ty Lue gave his best to Isaiah Hartenstein after Clippers exit: “He’ll be good [for them]”

Isaiah Hartenstein eventually joined the New York Knicks back in July 2022. He did not stay with the Clippers for even one full year. Losing a player is certainly tough for a franchise’s squad, including their coach. However, Ty Lue took it all in grace. As highlighted by The New York Post, the Clippers head coach had praised Hartenstein by stating “He’ll be good [for them]. You can run stuff through him, he can make plays, he can make passes. Defensively, he’s one of Thibs’ types of guys. He can switch at the 5 position, good in the drops. He’s very athletic and so he can do a lot of different things.”

Injuries had plagued Isaiah Hartenstein during his tenure with the Clippers too. Despite this, Lue remembered his contributions by stating “He had a great year for us. With all the injuries we had, for him to come and fill in the way he did, he became one of our better passers at the f5-man position.”

Hearing Isaiah Hartenstein’s recent candid confession may have certainly made the day for Ty Lue. After all, it showed that teams, coaches, and players may change, but bonds seldom do.