When it comes to unexpected NBA bromance origin stories, few can top the comedic and wholesome moment shared between Paul George and Isaiah Hartenstein.
The Oklahoma City Thunder center recently joined George on his popular Podcast P show and delivered one of the most hilariously authentic stories fans have heard all offseason, all sparked by George’s stunned reaction to finding out Hartenstein’s dad is Black.
In a lighthearted exchange, Hartenstein recalled the exact moment the dynamic between him and George shifted.
Isaiah Hartenstein: “The first time P found out my dad was Black.”
Paul George: “What’s up, my n***a?”
Isaiah Hartenstein: “That man’s whole energy towards me changed. He looks at his phone, ‘Your dad Black?'”
Paul George: “I’m scrolling on Instagram, and I saw like his dad was Black. Was he in the Escalade?”
Isaiah Hartenstein: “Yeah, he was.”
Paul George: “It f***ed me up, because I didn’t know what car it was, obviously, but like he was blocking me. So I went up trying to get out. He rolled the window down and looked exactly like Zay.”
Isaiah Hartenstein: “If my dad didn’t look exactly like me, I’d be like, ‘Yo, Moms… who’s this dude?’”
https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:DMVkoJ6C4zj
The entire interaction played out with warmth, humor, and camaraderie, the kind of banter that reveals just how tight NBA locker rooms can become, especially when shared experiences and cultural roots come into focus. George’s genuine surprise and Isaiah’s playful delivery highlighted just how little race played into their dynamic initially, but also how culture can shape bonds once discovered.
What makes the story even funnier is that Hartenstein’s appearance often leads people to assume he’s fully white. He takes much of his appearance from his white American mother, Theresa Hartenstein, while his father, Florian, is Black and German. Florian, a former professional basketball player and now coach, played a huge role in shaping Isaiah’s early love for the game.
The family relocated from Oregon to Germany in 2008 so Florian could continue his coaching career and so Isaiah could immerse himself in a more basketball-focused environment.
Hartenstein’s heritage has never been front and center in media coverage, making George’s Instagram discovery both random and revealing. What followed was an instant deepening of their rapport, filled with inside jokes and a noticeable shift in how George greeted him.
The moment has resonated online. Clips from the podcast have gone viral, and fans across social media are calling it one of the funniest exchanges of the offseason. Some are even pointing out how other former Clippers teammates like Patrick Beverley had a similar reaction to discovering Hartenstein’s background.
Beyond the laughs, the segment subtly touches on themes of identity, assumptions, and the unspoken codes that often exist in sports culture. George didn’t treat Hartenstein any differently on the court, but in that moment, he felt a newfound cultural connection, one that only made their bond stronger.
Hartenstein, now an NBA champion with the Oklahoma City Thunder, continues to win fans over with both his gritty play and infectious personality. And if there’s one takeaway from this podcast moment, it’s this: sometimes, all it takes to kickstart a bromance is a scroll through Instagram and a surprise Escalade sighting.
