Thunder's Isaiah Hartenstein out 5-6 weeks with fractured hand

Staff writer

Thu, 17 Oct 2024, 11:55 am·1-min read

The Oklahoma City Thunder will be starting the upcoming season without one of their new players. The team announced Thursday that Isaiah Hartenstein sustained a non-displaced fracture in his left hand during Tuesday's preseason game and will be re-evaluated in 5-to-6 weeks.

The Thunder signed Hartenstein in early July, inking him to a three-year, $87 million contract. He was supposed to be the starting center this season and help the Thunder fix their rebounding issues. OKC was 27th in the league in rebounding last season, and Hartenstein posted career-best numbers in that category with the New York Knicks last year, averaging 8.3 rebounds per game.

Oct 9, 2024; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) gestures after a play against the Houston Rockets during the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images — Thunder C Isaiah Hartenstein has a broken bone in his hand and won't start the season on time. (Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images)

The Thunder finished with the second-best record in the NBA last season and didn't have to deal with too many personnel changes along the way. According to Spotrac, OKC lost just 61 games to illness and injury, by far the fewest in the league. (The Indiana Pacers lost the second-fewest games to illness and injury, a total of 113 last season.)

The 2024-25 season is starting off much differently. With their new starting center out until at least November, Jaylin Williams out with a hamstring strain and Kenrich Williams recovering from a knee procedure, the Thunder will have to rely on their depth and hope it's up to the task.