Hartenstein leads Thunder to NBA title – history is made!

Hartenstein leads Thunder to NBA title – history is made!

Today, June 23, 2025, Isaiah Hartenstein is crowned NBA champion with the Oklahoma City Thunder. In a thrilling Game 7 of the NBA Finals, the Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers 103-91 to secure their first title since moving to Oklahoma City in 2008. Hartenstein becomes the second German to win this coveted title, after Dirk Nowitzki, who triumphed with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011.

Hartenstein, who moved from the New York Knicks to Oklahoma City before the season and signed a three-year contract worth $87 million, scored 7 points and 9 rebounds in the decisive Game 7. Despite a difficult finale in which he temporarily lost his starting position, he showed fighting spirit and increased his performance at the crucial moment.

The course of the game

In the game against the Pacers there was a serious setback for the team from Indiana when superstar Tyrese Haliburton had to be taken out of the game after just 7 minutes due to an injury - a suspected Achilles tendon injury. Despite Haliburton's absence due to injury, the Pacers led by one point at halftime. But the Thunder were able to pull away in the second half and were already ahead by 13 points in the third quarter.

The lead grew to 22 points before the Pacers made a few desperate attempts to get it to 10 points. However, Oklahoma City stayed calm and took advantage of the Pacers' many turnovers to ultimately win the game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was named regular season Most Valuable Player (MVP), excelled with 29 points and 12 assists and was also named Finals MVP.

The future of the Thunder

The Thunder stand out not only for their championship title, but also for their young team, which has the youngest average age in the NBA. Key players like Gilgeous-Alexander (26 years old), Jalen Williams (24 years old), Chet Holmgren (23 years old) and 19-year-old Nikola Topic, who is returning from a season-long injury, have laid the impeccable foundation for future success. The Thunder will also have nine first-round picks over the next four years, further supporting their long-term strategy.

The championship parade is already being planned, and it was notable that a video was released before the game showing buses already painted for the event, causing displeasure from Pacers coach Rick Carlisle.

Isaiah Hartenstein, born May 5, 1998 in Eugene, Oregon, is an outstanding center who has had an impressive career in the NBA. After a career through the youth teams in Germany, various European teams and a successful NBA debut, he is now an integral part of the Oklahoma City Thunder. His path took him from the Houston Rockets in the 2017 NBA Draft to various other teams before he finally came to the Thunder in 2024, who now see him as a crucial factor in their success.

The story of Isaiah Hartenstein and the Oklahoma City Thunder will surely go down in the history books as they not only won a title but also have a promising future ahead of them.

For more information about Hartenstein and his career, visit Bild or Wikipedia.