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.

"You don’t really know the true ability or unselfishness of a player until you are teammates," Josh Hart said. "In LA with the Clippers, he was solid. But he got to New York and played a style and brand of basketball that Thibs loves. And then his personality – he was a great locker room guy for us. Unselfish."

The first of two anticipated battles between the New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder lived up to the hype, albeit in the latter's favor.

Isaiah Hartenstein excited to play against the New York Knicks for first time since he joined the Oklahoma City Thunder.