Detroit — Pistons second-year center Isaiah Stewart is proof positive of what pursuing knowledge can mean to career development.
He’s turned into a pit bull in the post whom teammate Cory Joseph calls “Baby Ben Wallace,” in tribute to the Detroit Hall of Famer mentoring Stewart.
Pistons coach Dwane Casey praised Stewart’s willingness to learn.
“If he’s curious, you want to give him the information, give him the answers to be successful,” Casey said. “I will say this about Isaiah. Sometimes players are too cool to ask questions. And one thing with Isaiah is he will ask questions, and they’re good questions.
“He’s not just throwing out questions. So, I’d rather have that, players curious for information to ask good questions to make sure they get it right. Ask it in the huddle. If you don’t know, ask.”
More: Cory Joseph an ‘aggressive’ complement to Cade Cunningham in Pistons’ starting backcourt
Stewart’s development was on full display in Sunday night’s 115-105 comeback win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Stewart, with a game-high 12 rebounds and 14 points, was central to overcoming a 15-0 deficit.
“I loved the way Isaiah attacked the boards,” Casey said. “And again, it didn’t start out that way, but he found the boards. He found his niche of how he could create space and have them feel him.
“It’s a 15-round bout, and the way he plays, how hard he plays, a lot of guys don’t want to battle that the entire night. And I think he has the respect of the officials, and that is a talent to make them be able to feel you for four quarters. It might not start out that way, but just keep at it, keep at it, keep at it.”
Stewart is a big reason Detroit scored a season-high 64 points in the paint against Cleveland.
“What he does is he collapses the defense,” Casey said. “And our spots are open around the perimeter. They might be seven-foot, but he’s a lot faster. So, he has to use his strengths in those situations, and he did late (against the Cavs).”
Pistons guard Cade Cunningham lauded Stewart’s play.
“The thing about Isaiah is he’s going to try to out-work everybody. He’s such a big piece for this team. Just how hard he works, it’s contagious for everybody. We kind of feed off his energy a little bit, and he wants to make the right play every time. He wants to get everyone going, and having a ‘big’ like that on the team only adds confidence to the guards.
“He’s working his hardest for us. So, (this) was a big game for him, rebounding the ball and scoring it. Super happy for him, and I’m proud of him.”
Stewart scored 10 points in the second half, making five of six shots.
“Any time he ducks in like he did yesterday,” Joseph said Monday, “it’s almost like you’ve got to get him the ball. Because if you don’t, it’s like, ‘What are you doing?’
“The energy he was playing with yesterday — he has a high motor. He was using his strength, using his positioning, to get a lot of offensive boards (seven) to really help us win that game.”
Stewart (6-foot-9, 250 pounds) is averaging 7.9 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.2 blocked shots entering Tuesday night’s game with the New Orleans Pelicans in Detroit.
His 777 rebounds are the fourth-most by a Piston in his first 109 career games since 1990. Topping that list are Andre Drummond (1,092), Greg Monroe (887) and Grant Hill (796). Stewart’s 268 offensive rebounds during that same time period are third behind Drummond (428) and Monroe (361).
Where has Casey seen Stewart grow this season?
“The biggest thing is the speed of the game doesn’t bother him the way it did last year,” Casey said. “I don’t think he’s worried about being a 3-point shooter the way he was last year. That’s going to come. Just be patient. He didn’t shoot threes in high school. He didn’t shoot threes in college. So, it’s going to take a little more time than he would like or we would like.
“But that’s OK. Do what you do as far as rebounding and defending. Those mid-range shots — those are great. One thing he’s got to continue to work on is his spacing. … Right now, he wants to get to the rebound so bad and post up some. Spacing is just as good as any offensive play you can call.”
Casey noted that the timing will come for Stewart, drafted No. 16 overall out of the University of Washington, where he averaged 17.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in his only season.
He was 4-for-18 (.222) from 3-point range in 28 college games, and is 3-for-22 (.136) this season for the Pistons. So, he’s not a stretch big man yet. Whether he becomes one remains to be seen.
Wallace, who won the 2004 NBA Championship with the Pistons, travels with the team as a basketball operations and team engagement advisor, and Casey said, “He spends a lot of time with Isaiah Stewart.”
Wallace (6-9, 240) has the same body frame as Stewart and never tried to be a stretch big man. He was 7-for-51 (.137) on career 3-point attempts, but was one of the most menacing rebounders (15.4 was a career high and led the NBA, 2002-03), shot blockers (3.5 career high topped the NBA in 2001-02) and defenders (four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year) of his era.
“He’s kind of that bruiser-type player,” Joseph said of Stewart, adding that some opponents shy away from contact with him. “He’s the type of player you love to have on your team. But if you’re playing against him, you probably hate him. Fortunately, he’s on my team. So, I love him, playing with that type of physicality.
“Isaiah almost rebounds like a Reggie Evans-type of guy. Not necessarily the tallest, but knows how to position his body. Knows how to be physical enough to get the rebounds. He also has touch. He has a lot of game that he showed, and is still progressing. He’s like a Baby Ben Wallace. You got Ben Wallace working with him all the time in the gym. So, that’s an extremely helpful person to be around. I’m sure he’s soaking up all that knowledge.”
Sounds like the perfect mentor for Stewart, a hungry player with an insatiable desire to learn and improve.
Steve Kornacki is a freelance writer.
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Pelicans at Pistons
►Tip-off: 7 p.m., Tuesday, Little Caesars Arena, Detroit
►TV/radio: BSD/950
►Outlook: The Pistons (12-37) finished 7-9 in January after starting 5-28. Guard Cory Joseph said: “Seven-and-nine is better, but that’s still not our standard. I think we all understand that.”