Concern around the Oklahoma City Thunder’s frontcourt without Chet Holmgren has been all but nullified thanks to the return and stellar play of Isaiah Hartenstein.

Rebounding. Passing. Scoring. Blocking. Hartenstein has done all that at a high level and more in his five games this season.

Hartenstein knew OKC was the right team for him when the team's decision-makers traveled to "some random hotel" in Eugene, Oregon.

In his first 24 seconds of action this season, Isaiah Hartenstein grabbed a defensive rebound, ran a dribble handoff with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, created a potential hockey-like assist for an Alex Caruso 3-pointer initiated by a short-roll pass to the corner,

Mark Daigneault multiplies the time whenever he’s asked a variation of the same question. How has Isaiah Hartenstein integrated himself so well with an established OKC Thunder team?

In a recent interview, Isaiah Hartenstein commended Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams for helping him integrate into the team.

That depth of defenders combined with increased physicality is why Oklahoma City has the best defense in the league — and it has yet to play Hartenstein and Holmgren together (they haven’t been healthy at the same time). However, having just one of them back to clean things up at the rim lets those quality perimeter defenders be more aggressive.

Not only has Isaiah Hartenstein stuck the landing, but he landed on a first-class seat. Since his return from a fractured hand, Hartenstein has been a saving grace for the Thunder. Four games, four double-doubles and four wins.