The Knicks brotherhood lost a loved one.
Isaiah Hartenstein is leaving the Knicks after agreeing to a three-year, $87 million deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“NYC thank you for taking my family in and making my time there so special. Every time I went out on the court I always gave it my all for the city and I felt the love right back. NYC will always have a special place in my heart. All love,” Hartenstein wrote on Instagram.
The news exposed the bromance shared between the teammates.
“Love and will miss you bro thank you for everything you put into this team,” now ex-teammate Mitchell Robinson responded.
Josh Hart didn’t take the same tack with his former center.
“You are dead to me Zay. I never liked you anyways,” he wrote on X. “But congrats on the bag!”
There likely aren’t any hard feelings between the two, as Hart had the big man as a guest on the “Roommates Show” podcast he shares with teammate Jalen Brunson several times.
Hartenstein played for the Knicks for two years, serving as a backup during the 2022-23 season.
This year, however, Hartenstein had much more time to display his skills on the hardwood when Robinson fractured his left ankle in December.
In the 2023-24 season, Hartenstein averaged 7.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks through 25.3 minutes per game, which was a career-high.
Hartenstein also served as a pioneer in a top-10 offense due to his hard-hitting screens for Brunson.
He protected the rim efficiently on the defensive end, helping the Knicks finish as a top-10 defense.
Hartenstein also ended his star-studded season as one of just five players with more than 80 blocks and 80 steals; a list which also includes former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. alongside All-Defensive First Team selections Anthony Davis and Victor Wembanyama.
The Knicks now have a void to fill in their hearts and on the hardwood.
