Isaiah Stewart and the 5 scariest enforcers active in the NBA

The The enforcer role is somewhat of a lost art in the NBA. In the 80s and 90s, every team had at least one enforcer, if not more. Having a player who didn’t need stardom and wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty was essential to winning. Enforcers always have the backs of star players on their team. They are also more than willing to get involved in fights and arguments, and will play physical basketball that leaves opponents spending a little more time in the ice bath after each game.

Some great examples of enforcers are Dennis Rodman, Bill Laimbeer and Charles Oakley. Although the role of enforcer is not as common in the modern NBA, especially since the league has cracked down on physical altercations, there are a few members of a dying breed left. It was exposed in Game Detroit Pistons vs. Charlotte Hornets February 9. As fights broke out, Isaiah Stewart rushed to the defense of his teammates to get involved in another fight, proving that he will not let the role of coercion disappear. So what other active players play the enforcer role well?

Zach Edey was a polarizing player coming out of Purdue. The 7-foot-4 big man was a force in college. He won back-to-back Naismith College Player of the Year awards, something that hasn’t been done since Ralph Sampson in the early 80s. However, many didn’t think Edey’s interior-oriented game would work in the NBA. Scouts were concerned about Edie’s foot speed, lack of perimeter play and limited ability to pass from double teams.

It didn’t matter in the end, though, as Edey instantly became one of the best rookies last season. His size was too much for opposing players to handle, as Edey was a force on the glass and as a scorer during his freshman season. Edei also established himself as an enforcer for the Memphis Grizzlies. In addition to his height of 7-foot-4, Edei weighs 305 pounds. Nobody wants to mess with it, nor could they if they really wanted to.

While he doesn’t have a ton of NBA tape yet, Edei has already stood up for his teammates on multiple occasions throughout his young career. That’s admirable, considering Edie’s young age. Unfortunately, Edei was limited to just 11 games in his second year. He had ankle problems, something that is extremely concerning for a man of his size. Hopefully, Edei can get healthy and get back on the field to be a big body no one wants to mess with.

Historically, winning teams have had enforcers to do the dirty work. That has proven true in the modern NBA as well. The Oklahoma City Thunder are the defending NBA champions, and they have an enforcer in Lou Dort. The Canadian forward is as solid as a rock and cannot be moved from his area. He is built like a football player, and sometimes he plays like one.

The Thunder are winning a lot of games and rely on Dort to make sure opposing teams don’t take out their frustrations on players like current MVP Shai Giljus-Alexander. Enforcers can get a little dirty sometimes, and Dort is no exception. In addition to being a ball of muscle, he has become known for tripping up opponents and ensuring the players he plays against leave with a few extra bumps and bruises.

Dort is a rare player who can truly guard positions one through five. He doesn’t need a spotlight; he will only do whatever it takes to ensure the success of his team. Sometimes he crosses the line, but he is certainly one of the best players in the league.

Dillon Brooks is getting the flowers he deserves this year with the Phoenix Suns. Brooks has long been seen as the NBA’s most annoying pest and one of the league’s biggest villains. However, fans seem to have found him this year. After that traded from the Houston Rockets as part of the Kevin Durant dealBrooks played perhaps the biggest role in the Suns being better than expected.

Brooks has never been one to shy away from irritating opposing stars. His rivalry with LeBron James is iconic. He defends the greatest NBA player of all time well, and it certainly gets under his skin. Brooks constantly annoys other stars as well. He plays through the whistle and knows how to use his body to create just a little extra contact. He does this without it seeming too obvious.

Brooks’ antics made him hated by the Memphis Grizzlies, but his rough-and-tumble style became admired in Phoenix. It helps that he’s having a career year scoring the ball. Brooks is averaging 21.1 points per game, but his insistence on boring opponents hasn’t slowed down. Brooks is the king of the tantrum and certainly one of the best executioners in the NBA.

Whether Draymond Green is an enforcer or a dirty player is debatable. He had tons of unprecedented moments during his career. His spin shot on Jusuf Nurkic, his chest stomp on Domantas Sabonis and the choke he put on Rudy Gobert come to mind. The players Green goes up against tend to end up on the hardwood more often than not.

Still, there’s no doubt that Green will always have the backs of his teammates. Zelena thrives when games get physical. He also plays with a fine player in Stephen Curry, and makes sure Curry doesn’t end up on the receiving end of too much contact or any physical altercations.

With his Golden State Warriors winning four championships, Green proved that the role of enforcer is still necessary in the NBA. However, green isn’t just about causing chaos. Although his offensive game is limited, like many players before him, he is one of the the best defenders in NBA history. Green can guard inside or outside and has a Defensive Player of the Year award. He’s also a solid playmaker on offense for a big man. Green knows how to get his teammates involved. He did it with Curry, the the best scorer in NBA historyand a point guard who loves to play off the ball, throughout his career.

1. Isaiah Stewart, Detroit Pistons

“You don’t expect me to stay on the bench” Isaiah Stewart said. “What the hell am I being called to Detroit for?” The big man known as Beef Steve made his role clear after his latest feud. Despite being on the bench when the punches flew and the shoving took place, Stewart rushed onto the field to save his teammates.

Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff said “(Jalen) Duren and Stew consider themselves brothers. If you put two guys on one guy and you’ve already crossed the line, human instinct tells him to protect his little brother.” Not only was Bickerstaff not surprised that Stewart stormed the court and attacked Miles Bridges, but he also borderline applauded it.

Stewart is willing to sacrifice a sack if it means protecting his teammates, as evidenced by being sacked eight times in his career. This was far from the first time Stewart stepped up his work for the Pistons. Fans will remember when Stewart was bloody and chasing after LeBron James like a madman.

Stewart plays one of the most physical brands of basketball in the NBA. Everything he does is reminiscent of the Bad Boy Pistons of old, and he’s carried on the legacy of an elite enforcer in Detroit quite well.