Isaiah Hartenstein thinks his game can take flight in Denver

Isaiah Hartenstein finally cracked the Houston Rockets rotation in late-December of last season. He scored a career-high 19 points on 9-11 shooting in 34 minutes against the Pelicans, and two nights later against the Nuggets went for 16 points and 12 rebounds in 18 minutes. Hartenstein was getting minutes and producing.

But as the calendar flipped to 2020, Hartenstein’s playing time dwindled. Then, the 2020 trade deadline hit. The Rockets went micro, outlawing any true center from their rotation.

“I thought I was playing good, finally hit the rotation. And they just went micro-ball,” Hartenstein said Wednesday. “So it was kind of hard to get in that rotation after that.”

Hartenstein won’t have to worry about losing playing time due to micro-ball in Denver. Behind Nikola Jokic, he’s in line for regular minutes and based on how Michael Malone has typically deployed four big men in his rotation, Hartenstein will likely garner consistent playing time at least at the beginning of the season.

It’s part of what made the Nuggets such an ideal landing spot for Hartenstein, who drew interest from several teams at the onset of free agency. In Denver, he’ll have an opportunity to play and, more importantly, expand his game. Hartenstein said in Houston his primary role was to set screens and do little else. With the Nuggets, he’s excited for the opportunity to show off a versatile offensive game and live out his potential.

“I’ve proven every time I’ve played that I can play in the NBA,” said Hartenstein. “Even when I was sent down to the G League I proved I’m the best player down there. It’s just the opportunity.”

That’s the thing about Hartenstein: whether he’s been in the G League or the NBA, even though his playing time with the Rockets was hardly consistent, he’s always produced. When Hartenstein has logged over 20 minutes in the NBA, he’s averaged 13 points (64% shooting) and nine rebounds per game. Per 36 minutes, Hartenstein averaged 14.5 points and 12.2 rebounds with the Rockets last year. In the G League, he posted a monster stat line of 25.7 points, 14.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game during the 2019-20 season.

The 22-year-old is also conscious of the Nuggets’ track record for developing prospects. From Will Barton, who was glued to the bench in Portland before arriving and flourishing in Denver, to Torrey Craig, Monte Morris and even Jokic, the secret seems to be out around the league. The Nuggets know how to identify overlooked talent and players who we went undrafted or were selected in the second round like Hartenstein. If you put in the work and play your role, you can rise through the ranks in Denver and eventually become a rotation mainstay.

You can also make a bit of money on your next contract by following that path. When backup center Mason Plumlee agreed to a deal with the Pistons on the opening night of free agency, Hartenstein began to zero in on Denver as an attractable destination. He ended up signing a two-year veteran’s minimum contract with the Nuggets.

“Denver has done a good job of giving people opportunities to really get better and show what they can really do,” Hartenstein said.

But think for a second about the situation Hartenstein is walking into. He’s in a new city with a new coaching staff on a new team. Denver can’t hold group practices until Sunday. Currently, he’s limited to individual workouts with a Nuggets coach. Hartenstein hasn’t brushed shoulders with most of his teammates even though Denver’s first preseason game is 10 days away.

That’s far from ideal.

He does have some familiarity with one player on the Nuggets’ roster. Hartenstein was teammates and pick-and-roll partners with Monte Morris during the 2017-18 season when they both played for the G League’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers. The seven-footer, who grew up in Germany where his father Florian was playing professionally, thinks his built-in chemistry with Morris will help that pair be an effective two-man combination early on this season.

“I thought we were the best pick-and-roll guys in the G League,” said Hartenstein.

Since agreeing to sign in Denver back on Nov. 22, Hartenstein has done his homework. He’s poured over Denver’s film, offensive and defensive playbook, and studied how Jokic plays and orchestrates the Nuggets’ attack. Hartenstein has also peppered Michael Malone and his staff with questions about his role and what will be expected of him this season.

On a team of underdogs, Hartenstein will fit right in.

“I just want to be the hardest (playing) player on the court and be a star in my role,” Hartenstein said. “So whatever coach wants me to do I’m going to do. And I can do a lot of things on the court.”