That depth of defenders combined with increased physicality is why Oklahoma City has the best defense in the league — and it has yet to play Hartenstein and Holmgren together (they haven’t been healthy at the same time). However, having just one of them back to clean things up at the rim lets those quality perimeter defenders be more aggressive.

With an $87 million price tag over the next few seasons, Isaiah Hartenstein had a large contract to live up to after joining the Oklahoma City Thunder during th

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault had a similar sentiment. Daigneault said Hartenstein is the best screener he's ever coached. The seven-footer has mastered the underappreciated art. He's already third in OKC in screen assists at 14. He'll quickly usurp Holmgren's 21 assists for the top spot.