By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The German starting center of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Isaiah Hartenstein, will be re-evaluated in ten to fourteen days after being diagnosed with a soleus strain in his right calf, the team announced on Saturday.
Due to right ankle soreness, Hartenstein missed his first game of the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season on Friday, but his side improved to 19-1 by completing a three-game homestand with a narrow win over the Phoenix Suns. Ensuing medical tests prompted the decision to keep him on the injury list.
Over the 19 previous team outings, the German big started, averaging 12.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.8 blocks per contest, being an integral part of early-season success for the defending champions.
He joined the Thunder before the 2024-25 season by penning a three-year deal, which includes a team option for the 2026-27 season. Back in the 2016-17 season, he played five Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games with Zalgiris before moving to 447 NBA appearances.
Hartenstein has been dealing with ankle issues in recent years, including the reason leading to his absence from the senior national team of Germany in last summer’s EuroBasket 2025.
This season, the team coached by Mark Daigneault has overcome several injury setbacks on the way to the top of the overall standings. Despite issues, they are four games away from the second-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference table, and three games away from the Eastern Conference leaders, the Detroit Pistons.
The next game is on Tuesday, opposite the Golden State Warriors in Chase Center.