Isaiah Hartenstein recently discussed his first full season with the Oklahoma City Thunder during an appearance on Podcast P with Paul George. The veteran center expressed deep gratitude toward Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, praising the star guard’s leadership as a key factor in the team’s 2024-25 <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/basketball/nba/”>NBA championship run.
Gilgeous-Alexander capped off a remarkable season by claiming the regular season MVP, Western Conference Finals MVP, NBA Finals MVP, and the NBA championship itself. Hartenstein attributed much of this success to Gilgeous-Alexander’s unselfish approach and dedication to the team’s goals.
He has no ego. There’s no ‘I’m just gonna score, I’m trying to make it by myself’ — it’s never that,
Hartenstein said about Gilgeous-Alexander.
There were even times at the beginning of the season where he threw me a pass, he got trapped, and I threw it to the next man to get a shot. And I’m like, ‘Sorry. I’ll finish it next time to get you an assist,’ and he’s like, ‘I don’t care. I just wanna win.
—Isaiah Hartenstein, Oklahoma City Thunder center
He’s trying to make the team as best as possible. Him playing on both ends of the court — I think that’s something that’s super underrated. He plays defense,
Hartenstein added.
Insights into Oklahoma City Thunder’s Challenging Road to the Championship
During the same podcast, Hartenstein reflected on the Thunder’s confidence throughout the playoffs, noting that they remained steadfast even during tough moments. The Denver Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokic, posed the biggest challenge in the second round.
We were always confident throughout the series. I think the only series where we were kind of a little bit against the ropes was Denver — just Jokic. The way they play,
he explained.
They’ve been there before, and that’s probably the only series where we were like, even if we do everything right, they probably still have a chance. Every other series, we were like, if we do the right things, we’re good,
Hartenstein said.
Significance of Gilgeous-Alexander’s Leadership in Thunder’s Breakthrough Season
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s calm, ego-free style of leadership has been pivotal in transforming the Oklahoma City Thunder into champions. His ability to contribute strongly on both offense and defense, while prioritizing team success, has earned him multiple MVP honors and the respect of teammates like Hartenstein.
As the Thunder look ahead, Gilgeous-Alexander’s example sets a high standard for teamwork and perseverance, suggesting that Oklahoma City is well-positioned to remain a competitive force in the NBA for years to come.