Mar 21, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) moves around Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) on a play against the Charlotte Hornets during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

'He Has No Ego' – Oklahoma City Thunder’s Isaiah Hartenstein Reveals What Makes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Special

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Jordan Samar | Last updated Jul 25, 2025 10:11 AM ET

Isaiah Hartenstein recently appeared on Podcast P with Paul George to reflect on his first full season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the veteran center said he is indebted to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for helping him win his first NBA championship.

Gilgeous-Alexander is fresh from a dream 2024-25 campaign, winning the regular season MVP, Western Conference Finals MVP, NBA championship, and Finals MVP, and Hartenstein said the Oklahoma City star deserves it because of his humility and team-first mentality.

“He has no ego. There’s no ‘I’m just gonna score, I’m trying to make it by myself’ — it’s never that,” Hartenstein said about Gilgeous-Alexander. “There were even times at the beginning of the season where he threw me a pass, he got trapped, and I threw it to the next man to get a shot. And I’m like, ‘Sorry. I’ll finish it next time to get you an assist,’ and he’s like, ‘I don’t care. I just wanna win.”

Oklahoma City Thunder: Lu Dort Drops Obvious Tyrese Haliburton Gameplan Ahead of Exciting 2025 NBA Finals 3 Jan 26, 2025; Portland, Oregon, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) celebrates with guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during a break in the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

“He’s trying to make the team as best as possible. Him playing on both ends of the court — I think that’s something that’s super underrated. He plays defense,” he added.

Oklahoma City Thunder News: Isaiah Hartenstein reflects on the team’s championship run

In the same podcast episode, Isaiah Hartenstein said he never doubted the Oklahoma City Thunder’s chances of winning this year’s NBA championship, though, like Luguentz Dort, he admitted that the Denver Nuggets pushed them to the limit in the second round.

May 18, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) is defended by Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) and guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) as he passes the ball in the first quarter during game seven of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

“We were always confident throughout the series. I think the only series where we were kind of a little bit against the ropes was Denver — just Jokic. The way they play,” Hartenstein explained.

“They’ve been there before, and that’s probably the only series where we were like, even if we do everything right, they probably still have a chance. Every other series, we were like, if we do the right things, we’re good,” he added.