Oklahoma City Thunder Get Devastating Injury News Before NBA Season

Isaiah Hartenstein will miss the start of the 2024-25 NBA season.

Thunder general manager Sam Presti / BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

Isaiah Hartenstein is coming off a productive season for the New York Knicks.

He finished the year with averages of 7.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks per contest while shooting 64.4% from the field in 75 games (49 starts).

Over the offseason, Hartenstein signed a big contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder with many believing he was their missing piece to be a title contender.

However, the six-year veteran will miss the first month of the NBA season due to injury.

Via Shams Charania of ESPN: "Thunder say Isaiah Hartenstein suffered a small, non-displaced fracture in his left hand in Tuesday’s preseason game in Denver and will be re-evaluated in five-to-six weeks."

Thunder say Isaiah Hartenstein suffered a small, non-displaced fracture in his left hand in Tuesday’s preseason game in Denver and will be re-evaluated in five-to-six weeks.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 17, 2024

While it's possible that Hartenstein will be good to go by December, dealing with an injury so early is devastating for Thunder fans.

Thunder Injury Update: Center Isaiah Hartenstein sustained a small, non-displaced fracture in his left hand during the second half of Tuesday’s preseason game in Denver. Hartenstein will be re-evaluated in five to six weeks.

Per: Thunder PR

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— ThunderChets (@ThunderChats) October 17, 2024

Hartenstein has also spent time with the Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets and Cleveland Cavaliers.

His career averages are 6.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists per contest while shooting 59.6% from the field and 31.0% from the three-point range in 322 regular season games.

He has also appeared in 26 NBA playoff games (13 starts) for the Knicks and Rockets.

Isaiah Hartenstein has suffered a small, non-displaced fracture in his left hand and will be re-evaluated in 5-to-6 weeks, The Thunder have announced.

The injury occurred in the second half of Tuesday's preseason game against the Nuggets. pic.twitter.com/8wCEhEjrbP

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 17, 2024

The Thunder will play their first game of the 2024-25 regular season on October 24 when they visit Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in Colorado.

Last season, they lost to Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the NBA playoffs (in six games).