Pistons fans know that Isaiah Stewart is an excellent all-around defender with a unique penchant for physicality. In a recent episode of the Old Man and the Three podcast, Stewart reveals how his background has shaped his one-of-one skills and mentality.Â
Stewart stands out in today’s NBA for his throwback style and mindset. His competitive nature has gotten him in trouble at times but it also helps him maintain his edge as a fierce defender. He’s also surprisingly nimble and skilled given his reputation as a bruiser and agitator.
Isaiah Stewart has hobbies like no other
When watching Stewart play, his physical strength pops out as a huge advantage. Not only does Stewart have the strength to back down weaker players and bang in the post, he also has tremendous hand strength that comes in handy when blocking shots. He and teammate Duncan Robinson credited his offseason work on his farm for this incredible functional strength.
For those who are unfamiliar, Stewart owns a date farm in California and joins in the work himself during the summer. It's a pursuit that's not shared by many other NBA players, but could contribute towards his immense strength. And that strength is pivotal for anchoring the Pistons' defense to elite levels, even when some other defensive aces miss games with injury.
Stewart's athletic background also gives him unique abilities
But it's not just Stewart's strength that makes him a great defender and valuable contributor for the Pistons. He also has surprising quickness and footwork for his size, which come in handy when switching out onto perimeter players. Stewart personally credited his previous life as a soccer player for these attributes. Legendary center Hakeem Olajuwon, the NBA's all-time leader in blocked shots, also famously started as a soccer player and had impeccable footwork.
Aside from soccer, Stewart also pursued boxing in his youth. That's another venture that requires excellent footwork, so his nimbleness as a center is unsurpising. But another important carryover from boxing is resilience. The phrase "punched in the mouth" is a common one in all sports used as a metaphor to bounce back from a tough loss, but it has its literal origins in boxing.
Stewart grew up taking shots from the best boxers in Rochester, New York. Now he's unafraid to mix it up with anyone in the NBA and unafraid to take risks on the court. Defensively, this means he's willing to contest any shot even at the risk of ending up on the wrong side of a poster dunk. Offensively, it motivates him to expand his game and shoot threes to help the Pistons, even if the results are rough at times.
Isaiah Stewart has become the perfect role player for the Pistons, and his offcourt background deserves much of the credit.