Knicks’ Isaiah Hartenstein coming up big at good time in career: ‘great timing’

Isaiah Hartenstein has proved to himself and any doubters that he can produce big numbers while logging heavy minutes in the NBA over an extended stretch for the first time in his six-year career.

The Knicks’ center also admitted Saturday, before a 113-105 loss to the Lakers, the timing couldn’t be better for his career, with unrestricted free agency looming this summer.

Hartenstein, who has been thrust into a larger role since Mitchell Robinson underwent ankle surgery in December, reiterated that he hopes his next contract allows him to remain with the Knicks.

“Yeah, it’s great timing, I can’t lie about that, but at the end of the day, I love it here in New York,” Hartenstein said before scoring six points and grabbing 15 rebounds in the Knicks’ loss.

“The plan would be to stay, but at the end of the day, you can’t predict what’s going to happen. So you have to just go game-by-game.

“But I love New York, I love the fans, I think it’s something special. And I love winning, I think that’s the biggest thing.”