Isaiiah Hartenstein won the title in the NBA as the second German after Dirk Nowitzki. This unites the two, but their path distinguishes them completely.
It was 14 years since Dirk Nowitzki with the Dallas Mavericks had written an incredible story when Isaiah Hartenstein at 103: 91 of his Oklahoma City Thunder in game 7 against the Indiana Pacers As the second German NBA-Title won. “Dirkules” led the “Mavs”a team with many veterans and as a great star against the highly favorite Miami Heat one LeBron James To the championship. Nowitzki and Hartenstein are now together in the German Basketball history books. Your way there was fundamentally different.
The rooted Nowitzki and the traveler Hartenstein
Nowitzki was 32 years old in winning the title and with Dallas a long attempt until the crowning glory on June 12, 2011, a week before his birthday. The “German Wunderkind “only played in two clubs in his career: he was drafted into the NBA by the DJK Würzburg and immediately found his luck in Dallas, which in the trade from the Milwaukee Bucks (Draffed Nowitzki received nine position). He stayed with the Texans for 20 years and became one of the best NBA players in history.
Dirk Nowitzki will be with the Dallas Mavericks NBA champion in 2011
Hartenstein is likely to never apply as such. But the center has already achieved a lot more than it would have suspected its career path. In the NBA, the Oklahoma City Thunder has been his sixth club since he was in 2018 Houston Rockets Grew into the league – Hartenstein (selected in the 2017 Houston draft as 43rd in 2017) had to earn through one year in the club’s farm team. Before that, he played in Lithuania after he had his beginnings as a basketball professional in Germany.
Hartenstein and the perfect timing
Hartenstein, like Nowitzki, needed patience, but not patience to climb the last stage, but to find yourself and the right place at all. At the New York Knicks, the 27 -year -old prior season succeeded in breaking off – it was also the perfect time for him. Because Hartenstein came into the last year of the contract and was suddenly an option for the very big teams.
Oklahoma was awarded the contract, a two -year contract with an option over another year (must be drawn from the club) and a total of $ 58.5 million in two seasons were convincing enough. In addition, it was already clear that the Thunder would be one of the top candidates on the title. The blood boy team was already number one in the west in the regular season, but the lack of experience was then noticeable in the playoffs.
Isaiah Hartenstein in the fight for the ball
“OKC” A player like Hartenstein was missing. The 2.13-meter man is a classic worker, a role player that successful teams in the NBA absolutely need. The team has improved Hartenstein’s physique under the basket. He shines particularly with his strength in rebounds. So his team comes and remains in possession of the ball more often. On the side of MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams puts Hartenstein career best values on points and rebounds.
Was in Dallas die Nowitzki-Statue, Is the team interview with “OKC”
Nowitzki was the great star of the Mavericks. The question of who should get the next throw did not arise in his time because only he “Go-to-guy” was. Most of the time he fought Power Forward Back into his opponent, jumped off at some point, held his opponent due to his size (also 2.13 meters) and an angled knee at a distance and sank the ball in the basket. With 31,560 points, Nowitzki is number six in the NBA story – Hartenstein has so far reached 2,584 points in seven years.
Nowitzki has received a statue in Dallas, she shows him in his “Signature Move”dem “One-Legged Fadeaway“, the litter that was unblockable. Hartenstein, on the other hand, is one of many in Oklahoma, which is exactly the recipe for success that has now made this title possible. An example: An interview with a single Thunder player is not possible after playing, almost the entire team always gathers around the respondent. The sign is clear: The star is the team.
Hartenstein thanks Nowitzki
Nowitzki would contradict this if you claim that it would have been different at Dallas at the time – but the good team just needed the top class of her top scorer. And that was exactly the reason for Hartenstein to always believe that despite the stony path everything is feasible. “To see Dirk and that it was possible also gave self -confidence that I can do it too. Thank you Dirk“, said the new champion.
Nowitzki was the model for German basketball players, at the latest now Hartenstein is likely to be one. And that of the players who do not have it as easily who prevail with their elbows and have to accept a lot of pain. “Dirk has done so much for German basketball and now being in one sentence with him, that’s something special”said Hartenstein. He is the anti-Nowitzki.
