LAS VEGAS, NV — Isaiah Hartenstein and the Oklahoma City Thunder are gearing up for a pivotal semifinal matchup against the Houston Rockets on Saturday. Meanwhile, Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks are set to face the Milwaukee Bucks beforehand. Despite his recent move from the New York Knicks, Hartenstein has maintained his status as a beloved figure among Knicks fans, thanks to his standout performance over the last couple of seasons.
During the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup, the Hawks secured their spot by defeating the Knicks, and Young celebrated his team's victory by rolling dice at center court on the Knicks logo as the clock ticked down to zero. This celebration, meant to evoke Vegas vibes, did not sit well with many fans who questioned why any Knicks players didn’t intervene. Young even took to social media post-game to poke fun at the situation.
After the game, Knicks' star Jalen Brunson was asked why no players stopped Young from celebrating. His response was blunt: “We should win the game if we don’t want him to do this.”
Should both the Thunder and Hawks triumph in their semifinals, fans will witness the intriguing spectacle of Hartenstein facing off against Young. Hartenstein, who spent two seasons with the Knicks, gave his thoughts on the possibility of such a showdown during media availability. Responding to reporter Yoav Modai, he stated, “Oh yeah, I wouldn’t have let him roll the dice on midcourt if I was there. For sure, not. I would've done something. But yeah, I always got love for New York.”
His words reflect the enduring connection he feels toward the Knicks and their passionate fanbase. Hartenstein’s affection for New York is palpable, even as he dons Thunder colors now.
On the other hand, Jalen Brunson seemed to downplay the need for drama surrounding Young’s antics. He insisted, “Do I have an issue with it? Yeah, but he won, they won. So why put in false and fake energy to do something like [prevent Young's celebration], when you could’ve done [something] to try and win the game? That’s just my point of view on it.”
This perspective is key amid the dynamics of the NBA playoffs, which often heighten rivalries and fan emotions. Adelights, or missteps, by players become focal talking points, particularly during heated matchups like the Knicks-Hawks face-off.
With the semifinals approaching, both teams need to channel their focus toward securing the necessary victories to set up this potentially thrilling Thunder-Hawks final on Tuesday night. The Hawks-Bucks matchup is set to tip off at 4:30 PM EST, followed by the Thunder-Rockets game at 8:30 PM EST. Should Hartenstein and Young both win, they will have their moment to settle post-game scorecards from the nail-biting quarterfinal battle.
Certainly, much is at stake for both players and their respective teams. Young’s celebration, though controversial, adds another layer of narrative as Hartenstein prepares to step onto the court against him—potentially for the first time since leaving the Knicks. It will be interesting to watch how these sentiments will translate on the court.
While the focus remains on the upcoming games, fans and analysts alike will be talking about Hartenstein's comments, the earlier incident involving Young, and the broader themes of respect, rivalry, and the hunger to win. With high stakes and heightened emotions, the NBA playoffs are destined for thrilling outcomes, shaped not just by scores, but by the stories and character of the players involved.
