The Oklahoma City Thunder announced disappointing news just days before the start of the 2024-25 NBA season. They will wrap up their preseason with a home game against the Atlanta Hawks before preparing for their season opener on October 24 against the Denver Nuggets. However, they’ll have to face star center Nikola Jokic without a key player they recently acquired for defense.
On Thursday morning, ESPN insider Shams Charania reported that Isaiah Hartenstein suffered a small, non-displaced fracture in his left hand during a preseason game, and he will be re-evaluated in five to six weeks.
With Hartenstein out for at least a month, the Thunder will need to adjust their lineup. Fortunately, they had a strong season last year without him. Head coach Mark Daigneault is expected to move forward Chet Holmgren to the center position, maintaining a similar starting lineup to last season, which now includes three-and-D specialist Alex Caruso. Although this may impact their rebounding and defense, Jalen Williams is anticipated to step up and help fill the gap in the frontcourt.
Hartenstein is in the first year of a three-year, $87 million contract he signed this summer.
