I-Hart still hearts the New York Knicks. Chasing a big contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder may sullied his reputation among some Manhattanites, but Isaiah H

Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein signed a three-year, $87 million deal over the summer after two seasons with the New York Knicks. However, he still follows his former team, which he admitted to rooting for during the Knicks’ Christmas Day matchup against the San Antonio Spurs.

Friday night marked Isaiah Hartenstein’s first time back at The Garden since leaving the Knicks this offseason, and the hometown crowd was sure to give him a warm welcome.

But with Hartenstein, the Knicks were limited to offering a max of four years, $72.5 million. The Thunder gave up three years, $87 million. The reason for New York’s restrictions was it originally signed Hartenstein to a two-year deal, so operated with only his partial Bird Rights. Oklahoma City signed him using straight cap space.

The New York Knicks: don't knock them until you've tried them. Isaiah Hartenstein has spent the past three seasons at the opposite ends of the NBA rotation mana

The Knicks brought a nine-game winning streak into Friday night's game against Isaiah Hartenstein's Thunder and Oklahoma City had won 13 in a row.