Isaiah Hartenstein demonstrated what the role could be at its peak. The job as the Knicks’ backup center — at the time occupying the spot behind an injury-prone Mitchell Robinson on the depth chart — could serve as a launchpad to an $87 million deal in free agency. To pricing out of the Knicks’ maximum offer due to the early Bird rights.

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

It was a happy return to Manhattan for Isaiah Hartenstein, whose Oklahoma City Thunder dismantled the Knicks by a 126-101 final on Friday night at Madison Square Garden. The Western Conference-leading Thunder earned a two-game sweep of the Knicks after previously prevailing in a 117-107 home win last weekend.

Twenty-one games into his tenure with Oklahoma City, Isaiah has adapted. Still, playing at Madison Square Garden for the first time since Hartenstein signed a three-year deal, $87 million contract with the Thunder, the venue Isaiah called home for two seasons, is unique.

Just a month into the offseason, though, that dominant core took a massive change. Two months later, that strong core had all but disappeared.

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.

The team's struggles on defense have been well-documented, but considering the fact that the Knicks were one of the best defensive teams in the league last season, it's clear that

Council, Dowtin, Bona, and Justin Edwards formed the whole Philly bench against the New York Knicks. Edwards stole the headlines but there is a lot to be said about the other three.

Oklahoma City comes into a matchup against Brooklyn as winners of seven straight home games. Sunday's matchup is the first this season between the two teams.

Randle believed in the Knicks and their potential when almost no one else in the NBA did. When Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard and almost every other free agent took a hard pass on the Knicks, Randle risked coming to a franchise that had just finished a 17-65 season and had gone six straight years without making the playoffs.

Friday night marked Randle’s first game back at Madison Square Garden since the Knicks traded him and Donte DiVincenzo to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the three-team blockbuster that brought center Karl-Anthony Towns to New York.

Karl-Anthony Towns likely is the player the Knicks can least do without, especially with Mitchell Robinson still unable to practice.