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OKLAHOMA CITY — From defending San Antonio Spurs Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama on Opening Night to Denver Nuggets three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein faces another challenge in his home opener. The Thunder held Wembanyama to 1-for-13 shooting on Opening Night.
However, facing Jokic and the Nuggets is a different approach for the Thunder, as Hartenstein discussed what’s critical to slowing Jokic down.
“Just being disciplined,” Hartenstein said. “A guy like that who’s so smart, he’ll punish you if you’re not disciplined. We’ve played him a lot of times. Got a lot of respect for him. So, we just wanna go in there and do what we need to do.”
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“Just being disciplined. A guy like that who’s so smart, he’ll punish you if you’re not disciplined.
We’ve played him a lot of times. Got a lot of respect for him. So, we just wanna go in there and do what we need to do”
Isaiah Hartenstein on defending Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic pic.twitter.com/Ml06DJnmbQ
— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) October 22, 2026
Isaiah Hartenstein is looking forward to the Thunder’s marquee matchup against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets.
“It’s always a great matchup,” Hartenstein said. “The games that you always get excited for; those are the games we always know it’s going to be a challenge. They have a great team over there. So, it’s exciting.”
The Thunder and Nuggets have had their fair share of battles over the past two seasons, including a grueling best-of-7 series in the 2025 Western Conference semifinals that went the distance before Oklahoma City went on to capture its first title. For Hartenstein, that experience gives Thunder big men like All-Star Chet Holmgren, Jaylin Williams, and himself an edge ahead of their first regular-season meeting with Jokic.
“It’s our preparation. I think we have a lot of great defenders on our team. A lot of different looks that we can give you throughout the game,” Hartenstein said. “Chet, me, J-Will, putting different guys on them. We just have multiple defenders. And I think Chet just did a great job coming out from the get-go; being ready to go.”
For Isaiah Hartenstein, the Thunder’s roster is best-equipped to take on bigs of Nikola Jokic’s caliber. For a starting lineup featuring two 7-footers in himself and Holmgren, size, plus the defensive ability to keep up with high-scoring centers, is critical for two-way bigs in today’s NBA.
“I think now it’s kind of getting back to where it’s not just find a guy that can shoot; you have to do multiple things out there. You have to be able to play inside. You have to be able to create actions,” Hartenstein said. “I think we’re getting back to playing more double bigs.
“People were trying to copy the small ball from Golden State, where it really wasn’t small ball. You had KD that was 6’11. You had Draymond that was 6’9, Iguodala. Now, we’re getting back to where you not only have to be big, but you have to be skilled.”
The Thunder’s dynamic frontcourt extends beyond rim protection and scoring, as Hartenstein discussed during morning shootaround.
“You have to be able to do multiple things. You can’t just play two big guys that can’t move at all or can’t create actions. That’s what makes the stuff look clunky. You have to have a mixture,” Hartenstein added. “And I think all of our bigs can do a lot of different things.”
With that approach in mind, Thunder GM Sam Presti added another dynamic 7-footer, selecting Aday Mara with the 12th pick in this year’s draft. Mara’s block on Wembanyama in his NBA debut set a defiant tone against the Spurs. For Hartenstein, it’s a testament to a productive offseason.
“He’s done a great job just coming in and being ready from the get-go,” Hartenstein said. “Him having this long summer where it was summer league/national team, so I think he’s already in that mid-season form, where it’s like you’ve played so many games. A couple of us; we’re trying to just get back into it. So, I think, for him, it’s been great just being able to have that good summer. I think the Thunder staff did a great job after summer league, going out there to Spain, making sure he’s ready.”
Equipped with three 7-footers, Hartenstein, Holmgren, and the Thunder will look to go 2-0 when they host Jokic and the Nuggets at the Paycom Center on Thursday.
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