Knicks Center Isaiah Hartenstein: Flash in the Pan or Consistent Contributor?

The New York Knicks signed Isaiah Hartenstein this summer to a low-risk, high-reward deal. He played well in the season opener against the Memphis Grizzlies, but can he continue the pace?

Jeremy Brener | Oct 21, 2022

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The New York Knicks wasted no time in free agency this summer to sign center Isaiah Hartenstein.

His two-year, $16 million deal wasn't the team's biggest splash over the summer, but it could prove to be the team's best bargain.

Hartenstein wasted no time making his presence known with the Knicks, scoring 16 points and grabbing eight rebounds in the team's opening-night loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in overtime.

Even though Hartenstein didn't start, he played 40 minutes in the team's opener compared to starter Mitchell Robinson's 13 minutes. The latter found himself in foul trouble all night, forcing Hartenstein to step into a larger role. Will that trend continue as he settles in as the Knicks' backup center?

Hartenstein was particularly valuable in crashing the glass on the offensive end, stretching possessions and giving the Knicks multiple chances to score. He also found a lot of high-percentage looks in the paint, making 7-of-11 shot attempts.

Out of his misses, all but one came from the three-point line, which is arguably the area of his game that needs the most improvement. Last season with the Clippers, Hartenstein barely took threes, but he proved in the preseason that he can take and make shots from distance.

If Hartenstein can keep this level of intensity up, he'll prove to be a consistent contributor for the Knicks rather than a flash in the pan.

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Published Oct 21, 2022

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.