By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
German center Isaiah Hartenstein has decided to skip the 2019 World Cup in order to better prepare for the upcoming NBA season with the Houston Rockets.
“I’ll need to prove I can belong here,” Hartenstein said to Donatas Urbonas of 15min.lt. German national team head coach Henrik Rodl has agreed with the 21-year-old player’s decision.
Hartenstein played 28 NBA games with the Rockets in 2018-2019 and spent most of the season with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Houston’ G-League affiliate. He led the Vipers to the G-League title by averaging 28.0 points, 15.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.6 blocks in the Finals vs. the Long Island Nets, earning Finals MVP in the process.
Germany competes in Group G of the World Cup. They will face France, Dominican Republic and Jordan.