Isaiah Stewart, a worthy successor to Ben Wallace?
Cade Cunningham has a simple formula for talking about importanceIsaiah Stewart in Detroit. “It’s a luxury to have someone like that in your team. He’s the cornerstone of our defense, he always has been. It’s a luxury to have him.”, the Pistons leader insists.
It must be said that, now as a replacement, the interior still had one of the best seasons of his career, averaging 10.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2 blocks in 24 minutes. To the point of being featured at the end of the season?
“He is the best defender in the league”says Cade Cunningham. “I’d like him to be defensive player of the year because he deserves it. I see the best defenders in the league and I’m happy not to face him night after night. He’s different. He can defend against a playmaker or an inside muscle player. He can do everything and he’ll pick up anyone in the circle.”
“I firmly believe that I am the best defender in the league”
Winning the DPOI, Isaiah Stewart obviously wouldn’t mind. “That’s the goal. I firmly believe that I’m the best defender in the league.” the Detroit player confirms. “I might not block every shot, but I’m deflecting shots, filling gaps in our defense.”
The competition will be tough with Victor Vembanjam, Rudy Gober or Chet Holmgren, but the Eastern Conference Defender of the Month for December has a case to make. He is among the best blockers in the league, although at 2m03 he is obviously not the tallest.
“It’s like a fight: you can’t be afraid of the punches. So I accept it: it’s not a big deal to nail it. We punch, but we’re still there, we’re not coming back. I’ll be there, I’ll take the challenge every time. It’s about having heart.”explains his philosophy.
“They probably say to themselves that I’m a small interior, that I’m not going to block their shot, that I’m just talking”
“His timing, his instincts are great. He has the guts to go there when a lot of people don’t want to. If a player dunks once, it becomes a highlight and he doesn’t refuse to fight for shots. Stewart is the opposite of that.” going in the same direction is his coach, JB Bickerstaff. “If we nail him, all he’s asking for is another chance. That’s what makes him special: He has the courage to sacrifice himself to do what’s right.”
His will and his sense of timing, which can be reminiscent of another famous ex-Piston, Ben Wallace who is also “small” (2m06), but who was a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, allow him to exist at these heights. And it’s starting to get a bit of a reputation.
“They probably say to themselves that I’m a small interior, that I won’t block their shot, that I’m just talking. They come to challenge me and that surprises them.” he analyzes. “I’m hungry to counterattack, but I’m also smart enough not to feint. Sometimes they don’t even shoot. My presence near the circle is so important that some players don’t shoot.”
| Isaiah Stewart | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | The team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | That | Pd | Ft | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2020-21 | THE | 68 | 21:24 | 55.3 | 33.3 | 69.6 | 2.3 | 4.3 | 6.7 | 0.9 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 7.9 |
| 2021-22 | THE | 71 | 25:35 | 51.0 | 32.6 | 71.8 | 3.2 | 5.5 | 8.7 | 1.2 | 3.0 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 8.3 |
| 2022-23 | THE | 50 | 28:17 | 44.2 | 32.7 | 73.8 | 2.3 | 5.8 | 8.1 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 11.3 |
| 2023-24 | THE | 46 | 30:56 | 48.7 | 38.3 | 75.3 | 1.6 | 5.0 | 6.6 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 10.9 |
| 2024-25 | THE | 72 | 19:55 | 55.9 | 32.1 | 75.9 | 1.8 | 3.7 | 5.5 | 1.7 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 6.0 |
| 2025-26 | THE | 39 | 23:32 | 53.5 | 34.7 | 74.7 | 1.8 | 3.8 | 5.6 | 1.2 | 3.0 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 10.2 |
How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.
2026-01-26 14:48:00
