This is an offer thatIsaiah Hartenstein couldn't refuse. Already on the game level since he imagines himself deploying his offensive qualities even more at the Thunder, but also on the level of ambitions and salary. As we know, the pivot signed for 87 million dollars over three seasons with Oklahoma City.
Whereas if he had stayed in New York, he could have hoped for “only” 72.5 million over four seasons. The annual difference (11 million) is significant.
“If it hadn't been a team like Oklahoma City that had come along, I would have accepted to win less because I love New York. But now, I have an opportunity to win a lot and play for the title. That was the main factor,” he concedes. “The Knicks wanted to keep me and I appreciated it. It was a tough decision, but I couldn't turn down the opportunity.”
Can't emulate Jalen Brunson, already well paid
The 43rd pick in the 2017 draft now has his cake and eat it too. But why not do what Jalen Brunson has since done – and possibly Mikal Bridges – who agreed to earn less (a $113 million “left” on the road) to allow the Knicks to aim for the title in the long term?
“He's in a different situation than I am. He's already made $100 million. (85 exactly) in his career “, insists Isaiah Hartenstein, who until now, before his new contract, had posted 22.6 million dollars in earnings. “He's a star, who knows he'll probably never be traded. It's not the same thing. This sacrifice also shows the leader he is. They're rare to make these sacrifices. I have a lot of respect for him for doing that.”
Only the first two seasons of his new contract are guaranteed, which already represents $58.5 million. However, overall, with $87 million to be earned until 2027, the center will earn, in just three years, almost four times more than between 2018 and 2024…
“If it wasn't a situation like Oklahoma City, with a chance to win the title, I wouldn't have left,” he repeats. “But you have to think about the financial issue. I just had a child so… But it was hard. I love New York, I love the management, the team.”
| Isaiah Hartenstein | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2018-19 | WHOA | 28 | 8 | 48.8 | 33.3 | 78.6 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 1.9 |
| 2019-20 | WHOA | 23 | 12 | 65.7 | 0.0 | 67.9 | 1.3 | 2.7 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 4.7 |
| 2020-21 * | All Teams | 46 | 12 | 55.0 | 33.3 | 64.8 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 3.9 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 5.1 |
| 2020-21 * | DEN | 30 | 9 | 51.3 | 0.0 | 61.1 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 3.5 |
| 2020-21 * | KEY | 16 | 18 | 58.2 | 33.3 | 68.6 | 1.6 | 4.4 | 6.0 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 8.3 |
| 2021-22 | LAKE | 68 | 18 | 62.6 | 46.7 | 68.9 | 1.7 | 3.2 | 4.9 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 8.3 |
| 2022-23 | NYK | 82 | 20 | 53.5 | 21.6 | 67.6 | 2.6 | 4.0 | 6.5 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 5.0 |
| 2023-24 | NYK | 75 | 25 | 64.4 | 33.3 | 70.7 | 3.3 | 5.1 | 8.4 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 7.8 |
| Total | 322 | 18 | 59.6 | 31.0 | 68.9 | 2.1 | 3.5 | 5.6 | 1.7 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 6.1 | |
How to read the stats? GM = Games Played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots Made / Shots Attempted; 3pts = 3-pointers / 3-pointers Attempted; LF = Free Throws Made / Free Throws Attempted; Off = Offensive Rebound; Def = Defensive Rebound; Tot = Total Rebounds; Pd = Assists; Fte: Personal Fouls; Int = Steals; Bp = Loose Balls; Ct: Blocks; Pts = Points.
