Thunder's Isaiah Hartenstein sounds off on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's ‘ego'
Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein reflected on his first season with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the league's Most Valuable Player, scoring title champion, and NBA Finals MVP. In a recent interview with Philadelphia 76ers' Paul George, Hartenstein reflected on winning two seven-game series en route to his and the franchise's first championship, as well as what makes Gilgeous-Alexander such a special player and teammate.
Amid Gilgeous-Alexander's accolades, national praise, and ascension to stardom in the 2024-25 season, Hartenstein says the MVP's humble approach to leading the Thunder's offense stands out most, per Podcast P with Paul George.
'He has no ego. There's no I'm just gonna score, I'm trying to make it by myself — it's never that,' Hartenstein said. 'There were even times at the beginning of the season where he threw me a pass, he got trapped, and I threw it to the next man to get a shot. And I'm like, 'Sorry. I'll finish it next time to get you an assist,' and he's like I don't care. I just wanna win. So, do whatever you need. Even if he's putting up those huge numbers, he's not searching them.'
Gilgeous-Alexander's effort on defense sets the right example in his role as the Thunder's leader.
'He's trying to make the team as best as possible,' Hartenstein added. 'Him playing on both ends of the court — I think that's something that's super underrated. He plays defense. You can't just go pick on him, and he tries on defense. It's not like I settled for five seconds. I'm tired. I'm gonna just chill on defense. He doesn't do that. When you see that, it just gives us the push, gives us the confidence that he's gonna do it on both sides of the court, for sure.'
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 30.3 points on 44.3% shooting, 5.6 assists, 4.6 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game in the Thunder's seven-game NBA Finals series against the Indiana Pacers.
Isaiah Hartenstein on the Nuggets, Pacers en route to Thunder title
Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein addressed Stephen A Smith's old take and why the Nuggets were a tougher series compared to the Pacers in the NBA Finals.
'We were always confident throughout the series,' Hartenstein said. 'I think the only series where we were kind of a little bit against the ropes was Denver — just Jokic. The way they play. They've been there before, and that's probably the only series where we were like, even if we do everything right, they probably still have a chance. Every other series, we were like, if we do the right things, we're good.'
Hartenstein helped the Thunder win its first championship in franchise history.
Related: Thunder star Jalen Williams roasted by fans for recreating Kobe Bryant injury photo
Related: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 10 greatest accolades, ranked
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Matt LaFleur confirms Packers RB MarShawn Lloyd avoided long-term injury
Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur confirmed Thursday what Josh Jacobs first revealed on Tuesday: running back MarShawn Lloyd avoided a long-term injury when he was hurt during the team's first padded practice on Monday. LaFleur said Lloyd will miss practice time this week but avoided the worst-case scenario. "It's not going to be a long-term deal, but I wouldn't anticipate him (practicing) this week," LaFleur said Thursday. Lloyd suffered a groin/core injury on a perimeter run during Monday's practice. The Packers believed he was injured while planting his foot on the run and not when hit low unexpectedly by Nate Hobbs following the cut. A third-round pick in 2024 who missed most of training camp with injuries and then played in just one regular season game, Lloyd desperately needs the practice reps. With this new injury, Lloyd will miss at least three more practices, including Saturday night's "Family Night" event at Lambeau Field. Next week, the Packers don't return to the field until Tuesday morning. Green Bay's first preseason game is in eight days, which might be a stretch if Lloyd is dealing with a soft-tissue injury and can't practice this week. The Packers host the New York Jets on Saturday, Aug. 9. In related injury news, LaFleur said rookie receiver Savion Williams is still going through the "return to play" protocol after suffering a concussion, explaining why he left practice early on Tuesday. This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Matt LaFleur confirms Packers RB MarShawn Lloyd avoided long-term injury
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ravens players seek swimming lessons from Baltimore native Michael Phelps
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens have reached out to a local expert for help — not with blocking or tackling but with swimming. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey posted a video on social media asking 23-time Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps — a Baltimore native — for swimming lessons. The video includes Humphrey, tackle Ronnie Stanley, safety Kyle Hamilton and tight end Charlie Kolar standing in the pool. 'Did you know that one in three Ravens cannot swim,' Hamilton says. 'Come to Ravens training camp in this beautiful aquatics center and teach us how to swim,' Humphrey adds. Phelps seemed amenable to the idea, replying: 'I got yall!!! Let's do it!!' Kolar said after practice Wednesday that he didn't realize Humphrey was going to post the video. 'I should have known. It's so on brand,' Kolar said. "I thought it was going to be like a story or maybe sent to him, but I should have known better. I should have known better.' ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Cleveland.com gives promising update on ex-CU Buff Shedeur Sanders after facing Browns' first-team defense
Shedeur Sanders may finally be making headway in the Cleveland Browns' four-man quarterback competition. On Wednesday, the 'Grown QB' got his first reps against the Browns' first-team defense. Sanders impressed, showing a firm grasp on Kevin Stefanski's play-action-heavy offensive sets while throwing on the move. Mary Kay Cabot, Dan Labbe, Scott Patsko, and Ashley Bastock conceded that Sanders has earned consideration to move up the depth chart following that performance. 'A significant shift in the Cleveland Browns quarterback competition emerged Wednesday when rookie Shedeur Sanders earned his first opportunity against the team's starting defense — and made the most of it,' they wrote. 'While still working with the second-team offense, Sanders faced the daunting task of going against the Browns' defensive starters, including Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome II. It marked a critical step in his development and potential rise up the depth chart.' Kenny Pickett's hamstring injury opened the door for Sanders, and the CU Buffs record-breaker kicked it down on Wednesday. With everyone expecting him to fail, Shedeur showed that he could be a quick learner in a system that wildly varies from Pat Shurmur's in Boulder, Colorado. Dillon Gabriel was expected to become the primary beneficiary of Pickett's injury, but Sanders has flipped the narrative on its head. There are now four viable starting options in Berea. If Sanders can continue his progress, perhaps his fall to the fifth round of the 2025 draft could prove to be the humbling experience needed to mold him into a starting-caliber NFL signal-caller.
