Barring a major trade, it’s Isaiah Hartenstein’s show now.
He’s the guy at center, now and for the rest of the season.
Mitchell Robinson’s season-ending left ankle injury has created a major opportunity for the 7-foot Hartenstein, who has helped the Knicks go 4-2 since Robinson went down.
Based on a small sample size, the Knicks are in capable hands.
In the six games that Hartenstein has seen his role expand, he has an absurd offensive rating of 132.7 and a positive NET rating of 14.8, both best among Knicks rotation players in that span.
His 15.5 offensive rebounding percentage is the 16th best in the league, and he’s averaging 8.0 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game as the focal point at center.
“I’ve always been ready for this opportunity. I think I’ve shown I can be in this role,” Hartenstein, a free-agent-to-be, said recently. “At the end of the day we are going to miss Mitch a lot. But I’m ready — I’m ready for whatever [coach Tom Thibodeau] has in mind for me. … Last season, half of the games I would finish games. I’m used to this role, so I’m excited for it.”
The plan initially was to start Jericho Sims and keep Hartenstein as the backup to avoid messing with the second unit’s chemistry.
But now that Sims is out with a sprained ankle, that has been scrapped.
Instead, recent addition Taj Gibson is serving as the backup for the time being with Hartenstein logging a majority of the minutes.
The two combined for four points, 12 rebounds and four blocks in Wednesday’s rout of the Nets.
Gibson, 38, played a season-high 13 minutes.
“To be honest with you, no [I didn’t expect to play that much], but that’s just how the league works,” said Gibson, a Thibodeau favorite. “You never know what’s going to happen, but luckily I have my instincts, just being around, been in a lot of tough games, and I can always find defense. But these are my young guys. I’ve been with them for a long time. So it works out.”
The 25-year-old Hartenstein will now be an integral part of whether this team can be successful or not.
It’s coming at the right time for him, in a contract year.
He’s off to a pretty good start in what has now become a pivotal season in his career.