$16 Million Sharpshooter Sounds Off on Desire to Join Knicks

Getty Head coach Tom Thibodeau and members of the New York Knicks.

Though they may not have executed any highly coveted blockbuster transactions since the end of last year’s campaign, the New York Knicks were far from dormant during this past offseason.

One underrated acquisition was Isaiah Hartenstein, a fifth-year center with intimidating stature and trusty long-range shooting stroke who said one reason he signed with New York was his ability to space the floor for last season’s 13th-ranked 3-point shooting squad.

“It was something we talked about, especially because giving people like Julius [Randle] more space, being able to space the floor and giving something different than what they had before,” Hartenstein said in an October 11 New York Post story.

Hartenstein, a 7-footer who two-year, $16 million deal, said he was excited to finally get the “green light” to shoot from beyond the arc after not getting that opportunities in stints with the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers.

“When I came to the NBA, they needed me more just to roll, and I got put in that little box where that’s all I kind of did. … I think it was real frustrating for me because I know how good I can shoot it,” he said. “So those years leading up to now, where the Clippers let me shoot a little bit at the end, but now being able to show I can shoot, I’m excited.”

Hartenstein had a breakout season last season with the Clippers after enduring three years of inconsistent playing time in the NBA and stretches in the G League.

It was only toward the end of 2021-22 that he was given the freedom to launch shots closer to the perimeter. During the last 17 games of the year with Los Angeles, he posted impressive per-game averages of 10.2 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.1 blocks on 62.1% shooting from the floor and 52.6% shooting from distance.

Hartenstein Wanted to Play for Thibodeau

In free agency, Hartenstein was pursued by several clubs in need of both 3-point shooting and front-court depth, with the Orlando Magic being viewed as a likely destination, according to a Marc Stein column in June.

Of course, he wound up on the Knicks, where, perhaps above all else, he wanted to play for a coach like Tom Thibodeau, he said.

“To me it was more about finding somewhere I could help [them] win,” Hartenstein said, according to the Post story. “Anytime you have Thibs as a coach, [there’s] no rebuilding phase. That was one thing I knew for sure.

“You see him on the sidelines;  that’s not a rebuild. That’s what I was excited about, just having someone I knew for a fact, even if the front office told him, ‘Yeah, we want to lose,’ he can’t. It’s not in Thibs’ nature to do that.”

In New York’s two preseason games, has averages of 4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block on 33% shooting from deep.

Knicks Coach Explains Big Man’s Role

Thibodeau praised Hartenstein, 24, for his style of play, discussing how he could help keep an opposing defense guessing.

“I just think when you watch him shoot, he can make enough where the defense is going to honor him,” Thibodeau said, according to the Post story. “He doesn’t hesitate. We watch him shoot in practice every day, he’s pretty consistent with his shot. When he’s open, his teammates want him to shoot. He’s put a lot of work into it. But he’s got touch. You can see it.”

For his career, Hartenstein boasts an impressive 38.3% three-point shooting average, albeit on less than one attempt per game.

With passers who love to execute drive-and-kicks — Julius Randle, Jalen Brunson and Derrick Rose — Hartenstein could get the opportunity to up his shot-attempt totals considerably this season.