The Thunder's rise to becoming one of the most dominant regular-season teams in NBA history is largely a product of major offseason moves in 2024. Among those moves was the three-year, $87 million contract given to free agent center Isaiah Hartenstein.
Hartenstein has one of the more unique career arcs in the league, going from a draft-and-stash product from Europe to a starter averaging a double-double for a 68-win team. As Hartenstein's game has evolved, his appearance has, too.
While he dons a shooting sleeve on his right arm, Hartenstein's tattoo sleeve is still unmistakable, including elaborate artwork on his shoulder and unseen ink on his forearm. After entering the league relatively bare-armed, Hartenstein has added some of the best tattoos in the game.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Here is more on Hartenstein's tattoo journey from his rookie season in the NBA to now.
NBA PLAYOFFS HQ: Live NBA scores | NBA playoff schedule | NBA playoff bracket
Isaiah Hartenstein tattoos, explained
Isaiah Hartenstein's shoulder tattoo
Hartenstein completed his right arm with an elaborate piece on his shoulder in 2023.
The piece was done by Toronto-based French tattoo artist Ossian Staraj, who documented the work in a post shared on May 28, 2023. As described by Staraj, it is a "Jesus Christ & thorns design" placed to connect with Hartenstein's pre-existing work.
The process took two days, per Staraj.
MORE NBA FINALS
- Pacers vs. Thunder prediction and keys to the series
- How Paul George blockbuster trades helped set up the 2025 NBA Finals
- How the Thunder built their 2025 NBA Finals roster
- How the Pacers used savvy moves to build NBA Finals roster
Lion and Eye of Providence
Hartenstein returned for his second NBA season with a completed half-sleeve after adding a lion and the Eye of Providence to the outer part of his right forearm.
The clearest photos of Hartenstein's updated half-sleeve came during media day in 2021 when he was a member of the Clippers.
Make every day your own Masterpiece
Hartenstein's first visible tattoo is on the inside of his left arm and was seen during his first-ever media day as a member of the Rockets in 2018.
The tattoo is of a basketball hoop and a basketball with the words "Make every day your own Masterpiece," in script lettering in between the net and ball. Under the ball is Hartenstein's birthdate: "05.05.98"
