The Oklahoma City Thunder officially confirmed Saturday night that starting center Isaiah Hartenstein has been placed on the injured list. He is expected to be out for at least 10 to 14 days due to a strained right calf soleus muscle.

The 27-year-old Hartenstein was the 43rd overall pick in the second round of the 2017 NBA draft. He has played for several teams throughout his career, including the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, and New York Knicks. Since joining the Thunder in 2024, he has played 76 regular-season games, averaging 11.4 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, with a field goal percentage of 60.3%.

Hartenstein also played 23 playoff games for the Thunder, averaging 8.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists, making a significant contribution to the team's 2024/25 NBA championship.

So far this season, Hartenstein has played 19 regular season games, averaging 12.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, with a field goal percentage of 67.1%. As one of the Thunder's main pillars in the paint, his absence will undoubtedly put the team's interior depth to the test.

With Hartenstein sidelined due to injury, the Thunder desperately need other interior players to step up and fill the void. They hope that their other starting forward, Chet Holmgren, can shoulder more offensive and defensive responsibilities in the paint, and that backup center Jaelin Williams will also get more rotation opportunities.