Not only is Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein an NBA champion, but he’s also the envy of new parents everywhere after toddler son Elijah peacefully slumbered through the team’s chaotic title celebration on Sunday night.
With the 103-91 Game 7 win over the visiting Indiana Pacers, Hartenstein & Co. clinched the franchise’s first NBA crown since moving from Seattle in 2008. And given the historic moment for the 136-year-old city, players and fans were understandably exuberant as confetti rained down to the court at Paycom Center.
But even with all the madness during the trophy presentation, tranquil Elijah remained asleep, unbothered by the surrounding cacophony as he rested his tired head on his 7-foot father’s broad shoulders.
‘Lil Hartenstein is slumped,’ former Thunder star Kevin Durant wrote on X.
Atlantic columnist Jemele Hill was admittedly jealous of Elijah.
‘Everybody of a certain age is watching Isaiah Hartestein’s son with envy,’ she wrote on X. ‘My goodness I wish I could sleep like that.’
Isaiah Hartenstein celebrates with his son Elijah after defeating the Indiana Pacers 103-91
Even with all the madness during the trophy presentation, tranquil Elijah remained asleep, unbothered by the surrounding cacophony as he rested his tired head on his dad’s shoulder
Elijah woke up briefly to enjoy some post-game celebration with his dad and Chet Holmgren
Hartenstein also took some criticism for failing to properly support Elijah’s head as young parents are so often instructed to do. Even teammate and fellow father Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was seen reaching out towards Elijah’s head to lend a helping hand.
‘SGA telling Hartenstein to support his son’s head,’ Yahoo! Sports’ Dan Devine wrote on X. ‘Real dad raps.’
Although born in Oregon, Hartenstein was raised in Germany and began playing overseas before catching on with the Houston Rockets in 2018. After stints with the Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers, the former second-round pick broke out with the New York Knicks in 2022.
A year ago, he signed a three-year, $87 million deal with Oklahoma City, where the Thunder will hold a championship parade on Tuesday morning.
