The Oklahoma City Thunder stunned fans and analysts by benching veteran center Isaiah Hartenstein in favor of 21-year-old guard Cason Wallace for Game of the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers. The move, announced just 30 minutes before tip-off, marked the first time all postseason that coach Mark Daigneault altered his starting five.
Wallace, who started 43 games during the regular season and averaged.4 points, brought fresh energy and defensive intensity to the lineup. His surprise start made him the youngest player to start an NBA Finals game since Tyler Herro in 2020 The Thunder had relied on the same starting unit through all games of their Western Conference playoff run, making this change particularly notable.
Coach Daigneault’s decision was strategic, aiming to match the Pacers’ speed and perimeter play. Hartenstein, who played just minutes but contributed points and rebounds, accepted his new role with professionalism, emphasizing his commitment to the team’s success He praised Wallace’s impact and made it clear the lineup change was not to blame for the Thunder’s Game loss.
As the Finals continue, all eyes are on whether the Thunder will stick with this bold new strategy—or if Hartenstein will return to the starting lineup in a bid to reclaim momentum.
