Three Reasons why Isaiah Stewart will be Detroit Pistons’ next All-Star

Detroit Pistons center ‘Beef Stew’ doesn’t miss

I mean, Isaiah Stewart di shoot 60% from inside the arc.

Of the four centers (and Zion) who played in the 2021 All-Star game, Stewart did better than Nikola Vucevic and Domantas Sabonis, and was on par with reigning MVP Nikola Jokic. He was only behind Zion, who could go down as one of the  best interior scorers in NBA history, and Rudy Gobert, who led the league in two-point shot percentage.

Zion Williamson was the biggest basketball prospect to hit the NBA since 2003, and Stewart still managed to score more efficiently than he did in his rookie campaign.

In fact, Stewart is more efficient than any All-Star center was in their first season, and this was without an elite passer, which he should gain next year through a healthy Killian Hayes (and maybe Cade Cunningham.

Stewart does need to work on his free-throw shot, but with Ben Simmons making three All-Star games and Giannis Antetokounmpo making five, and both awful free throw shooters, this bump on his resumé clearly won’t hold him back from All-Star honors.

On top of a future All-Star nod, Beef Stew could also contend for the Most Improved Player award next season.

While it usually doesn’t go to second-year players, it has before, and usually, players are awarded it by year three or four, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility.

Jerami Grant might be snubbed again next year and not be an All-Star, which realistically leaves Bey or Stewart, and I’ll take Stewart any day.