When the Detroit Pistons drafted Isaiah Stewart with the 16th pick a lot of fans were scratching their heads. Now they are frantically going to the Pistons’ store to buy his jersey.
Beef Stew has won over Pistons’ fans with his hustle, defense and heart, three things fans in the Motor City appreciate.
It’s not just Pistons’ fans who have taken notice, as Cory Joseph, Stewart’s current teammate, had this to say while he was still in Sacramento:
#Pistons Cory Joseph said when he was with SAC, he watched film and noticed Isaiah Stewart: "I said, 'Who is this Baby Ben Wallace here?' He plays that old-school Detroit basketball."
— Rod Beard (@detnewsRodBeard) April 9, 2021
Joseph referred to Stewart as “Baby Ben Wallace” a comparison he has often drawn since being drafted by the Pistons.
It’s easy to see why, as both players are undersized centers with big hearts who can defend all over the floor. Stewart is not near Ben Wallace yet when it comes to defense, but the comparisons on that end make sense.
But if we are going to compare Stewart to Big Ben, it has to be with the caveat of a modern twist on the offensive end.
Detroit Pistons: Isaiah Stewart’s offense is ahead of schedule
While it may not be fair to compare Stewart to one of the greatest defenders of all time yet, one thing is for certain: he’s already better than Ben Wallace ever was on the offensive end.
Beef Stew flashed a little of his playmaking last night, picking up four assists to go along with this 16 points and 13 rebounds.
He also had a steal and a block and currently leads all rookies in rebounds, blocked shots and field goal percentage.
He’s also showing increased range on his jump shot, knocking down 41.7 percent of his 3-point shots.
I said that Isaiah Stewart could be the next Bam Adebayo and if he keeps shooting and making plays like this, he will be there sooner rather than later.
One thing is for certain, when it comes to hustle and heart, Stewart already has that Ben Wallace gene, as he will dive all over the floor, throw an elbow or two and take on any defensive assignment.
https://twitter.com/DetroitPistons/status/1380387331958521857
Isaiah Stewart will likely always be compared to Ben Wallace and Pistons’ fans are fine with that, as we’ve been waiting for a player like this since Big Ben left.
Beef Stew is not a Wallace clone by any means, but like Wallace, he could be the guy to spark the next run of consistent success in Detroit.