Basketball Champion Hartenstein Triumphs: "Shoutout Dirk!"
NBA Victory Belongs to Hartenstein: Grateful Acknowledgment to Dirk - NBA Title Claimed by Hartenstein
Slam dunk! Isaiah Hartenstein sent Oklahoma City Thunder fans into a frenzy as his NBA victory looked even sweeter, cradling his 1-year-old son, Elijah, right in the middle of the chaos. Fast asleep, Elijah saw it all without a blink. "Must be quiet enough around here," Hartenstein quipped, getting the crowd roaring once more.
The adorable Elijah's accidental mood-making antics even had Kevin Durant grinning from ear to ear. With Durant's mega-trade to the Houston Rockets announced just hours before the final, the excitement was at an all-time high. "Lil’ Hartenstein knocked out 😂😂😂. Congrats OKC," Durant tweeted to his former team.
Flashing his ski goggles to ward off champagne and beer showers at the locker room party, Hartenstein, 27, reminisced about watching Dirk Nowitzki win the title with the Dallas Mavericks 14 years ago. "I watched it with my whole family and friends somewhere in Quakenbrück," Hartenstein said. "Seeing him, it was possible. That gave me the confidence that if he could do it, I could too. Thanks Dirk."
A true German basketball legend, Nowitzki is a major inspiration for Hartenstein, who admires his long career's accomplishments. "Dirk has done so much for German basketball, and now to be in the same sentence as him, that's something special," Hartenstein said.
Theis and Kleber battled, but Hartenstein triumphed
Germany was all eyes on three players, Daniel Theis with the Boston Celtics, Maxi Kleber with the Dallas Mavericks, and Hartenstein. Only one would reach the pinnacle. Hartenstein's victory came as a crucial member of a young, formidable team that dominated opponents and secured the top spot in the Western Conference.
In the playoffs, the Thunder swept the Memphis Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets, and Minnesota Timberwolves before facing the Indiana Pacers in a seven-game title showdown. In the seventh game, Hartenstein scored seven points and nine rebounds, earning thunderous applause when his starting lineup was announced.
Hartenstein feels undervalued in Germany
In his seventh NBA season, Hartenstein has firmly established himself, becoming well-regarded for his strong passing, smart playmaking, and solid defense. The Thunder inked him to a three-year, $87 million contract before the season.
But the journey was far from easy. "I’d be the weird one in the gym during New Year's with the Artland Dragons," Hartenstein recalled. "They'd ask why I was there, and I'd tell them I wanted to make it to the NBA, prove myself, and win there."
Even today, Hartenstein still feels misunderstood in Germany. He sacrificed playing for the national team to focus on his NBA career, a choice that didn't sit well with some. "All the sacrifices I made, not playing for the national team to be here now, bringing a title back to Germany, that's something special," Hartenstein said.
Former national team coach Gordon Herbert demanded a three-year commitment from national team players. Dennis Schröder, Franz Wagner, and other basketball heroes won EuroBasket bronze and World Cup gold without Hartenstein, who always prioritized his NBA career. Now, Germany has a second NBA champion.
Many in Germany think that I don't see myself as German, but I want to give back so much to Germany, and that's sometimes difficult with the national team," Hartenstein said. Born in the U.S. state of Oregon to a German father and an American mother, he grew up in Quakenbrück while his father, Florian, played for the Gießen 46ers and the Artland Dragons in the Bundesliga.
Giving back to Germany is crucial to Hartenstein, despite his complicated relationship with the national team. Just a few months ago, he invested in ratiopharm Ulm and is thrilled about the possibility of celebrating a German championship there in the coming days. A trip to Germany seems likely. "I mean, I have to see. But winning two titles in Ulm would be quite something."
Hartenstein will definitely be in Ulm in August, where he plans to host the iHart-Fest: "I want to try and give back as much as possible to Germany. That's why I’m doing the iHart-Fest. That's why I did it with Ulm."
Hartenstein's family has come to Oklahoma City. Father, mother, wife, son, sister, nephew - they'll all pose for a photo with the NBA's golden championship trophy. When asked about possibly competing in EuroBasket, he replied nonchalantly, "No idea, I want to focus on this first, my body is sore. We'll see." While Hartenstein hasn't yet earned world champion status, as an NBA champion, he wouldn't have to stand at the back of the team.
I'm not going to be a big fan of this basketball game, but I'll certainly appreciate Dirk Nowitzki's NBA triumphs, as they inspire me and give me the confidence to strive for my own success in the NBA, like he did for Germany.
Despite being a German basketball legend, many Germans still don't appreciate Hartenstein's efforts and dedication to his NBA career, just as they didn't understand his determination to play basketball during New Year's with his native team, the Artland Dragons.
