The Knicks brotherhood lost a loved one.
Isaiah Hartenstein is leaving the Knicks after agreeing to a three-year, $87 million deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“NYC thank you for taking my family in and making my time there so special. Every time I went out on the court I always gave it my all for the city and I felt the love right back. NYC will always have a special place in my heart. All love,” Hartenstein wrote on Instagram.
Former Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostThe news exposed the bromance shared between the teammates.
“Love and will miss you bro thank you for everything you put into this team,” now ex-teammate Mitchell Robinson responded.
Josh Hart didn’t take the same tack with his former center.
“You are dead to me Zay. I never liked you anyways,” he wrote on X. “But congrats on the bag!”
Isaiah Hartenstein and Josh Hart during the 2024 NBA Playoffs Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostThere likely aren’t any hard feelings between the two, as Hart had the big man as a guest on the “Roommates Show” podcast he shares with teammate Jalen Brunson several times.
Hartenstein played for the Knicks for two years, serving as a backup during the 2022-23 season.
This year, however, Hartenstein had much more time to display his skills on the hardwood when Robinson fractured his left ankle in December.
In the 2023-24 season, Hartenstein averaged 7.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks through 25.3 minutes per game, which was a career-high.
Hartenstein also served as a pioneer in a top-10 offense due to his hard-hitting screens for Brunson.
Isaiah Hartenstein and Jalen Brunson high-fiving during the 2024 NBA Playoffs Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostHe protected the rim efficiently on the defensive end, helping the Knicks finish as a top-10 defense.
Hartenstein also ended his star-studded season as one of just five players with more than 80 blocks and 80 steals; a list which also includes former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. alongside All-Defensive First Team selections Anthony Davis and Victor Wembanyama.
The Knicks now have a void to fill in their hearts and on the hardwood.






