Isaiah Hartenstein Announces German National Team Comeback After Eight Years
German basketball star Isaiah Hartenstein has confirmed his return to the German national team after an eight-year absence, signaling his commitment to represent Germany at the upcoming FIBA EuroBasket 2025 tournament. The Oklahoma City Thunder center made the announcement during a media session shortly before the NBA playoffs began, addressing long-standing speculation about his international future.
The 26-year-old forward-center, who last played for Germany in 2017, stated that “the perfect time” has arrived for his comeback to the Deutsche Basketball Bund (DBB) squad. His decision comes at a pivotal moment in his NBA career, following a breakout season with the Thunder that saw him play a key role in Oklahoma City’s run to the Western Conference Finals.
Hartenstein’s international hiatus began after Germany’s participation in the 2017 FIBA EuroBasket, where he was part of the squad that finished 11th in the tournament held across multiple venues in Israel, Turkey, Romania, and Finland. Since then, the Salzgitter-born player has focused exclusively on his NBA career, which began after going undrafted in 2017 before signing with the Houston Rockets.
The announcement aligns with Germany’s preparations for EuroBasket 2025, which will be hosted across multiple countries including Cyprus, Finland, Poland, and Latvia. Germany qualified for the tournament through their performance at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, where they finished eighth under head coach Gordon Herbert.
During his NBA career, Hartenstein has played for several teams including the Houston Rockets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers, and most recently the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he has emerged as an important rotation player alongside All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. His 2024-25 season averages with OKC included significant contributions in scoring, rebounding, and playmaking from the center position.
The timing of Hartenstein’s decision carries particular significance given Germany’s recent basketball resurgence. The national team captured the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 championship, defeating France in the final held in Berlin. That victory marked Germany’s first major international basketball title since 1993 and came without Hartenstein’s participation.
His potential return would reunite him with several German NBA players currently active in the league, including Daniel Theis, who most recently played for AS Monaco in the EuroLeague after NBA stints with teams such as the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, and New Orleans Pelicans. Theis, born in 1992 in Salzgitter like Hartenstein, represented Germany at both the 2023 FIBA World Cup and EuroBasket 2022.
Other notable German players in the NBA include brothers Franz and Moritz Wagner of the Orlando Magic, as well as Tristan da Silva, who was drafted by the Orlando Magic in 2024. The Wagner brothers played key roles in Germany’s EuroBasket 2022 championship run, with Franz earning All-Tournament team honors.
Hartenstein’s NBA playoff experience with Oklahoma City could provide valuable leadership for the German squad. During the 2025 postseason, he averaged notable minutes off the bench for the Thunder, who pushed the Minnesota Timberwolves to a decisive Game 5 in the Western Conference Finals before ultimately falling short of reaching the NBA Finals.
The Thunder’s playoff run concluded with a 124-94 loss in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, securing Minnesota’s advancement to face either the Indiana Pacers or New York Knicks in the NBA Finals. Hartenstein contributed to OKC’s efforts throughout the series, which began with home-court advantage for the Thunder as the Western Conference’s top seed.
His commitment to the national team comes amid growing global interest in German basketball, fueled by the success of players like Dirk Nowitzki, who remains the only German to have won an NBA championship (2011 with the Dallas Mavericks) and MVP award (2007). Hartenstein has previously expressed admiration for Nowitzki’s legacy and his impact on German basketball’s international standing.
The DBB has not yet released an official roster for EuroBasket 2025, with training camp and final selections expected in the summer of 2025 ahead of the tournament’s September start date. Germany will look to build on their recent international success while integrating returning NBA veterans like Hartenstein into their tactical framework under head coach Gordon Herbert.
For Hartenstein personally, the decision represents a balance between his NBA obligations and international pride. After establishing himself as a reliable rotational player in one of the league’s most competitive conferences, he now seeks to add international competition to his resume while contributing to Germany’s continued rise in global basketball.
The announcement has been met with enthusiasm from German basketball fans and media, who view his potential return as a significant boost to the national team’s frontcourt depth. His combination of size, shooting ability, and passing skills from the center position could provide tactical flexibility for Herbert’s squad.
As the countdown to EuroBasket 2025 begins, all eyes will be on Hartenstein’s progression with the Thunder during the upcoming NBA season and his integration into the German national team setup. His decision underscores the growing trend of NBA players prioritizing international representation alongside their professional careers.
The next confirmed checkpoint in this story will be the release of Germany’s official training camp roster for EuroBasket 2025, expected in early summer 2025, followed by the tournament’s opening match in September.
What are your thoughts on Isaiah Hartenstein’s return to the German national team? Share your perspective in the comments below and join the conversation about the future of German basketball on the international stage.
