Isaiah Stewart was recently suspended for seven games for his part in the ruckus with the Charlotte Hornets, but it could have been worse.
Many were predicting the league would throw the book at Stewart as a repeat offender who has a reputation for viral altercations.
It’s a shame that so many casual fans only know Stewart from clips of him chasing down LeBron or Miles Bridges, as he is having a breakout season defensively and has established himself as one of the best defenders in the league.
If Stewart hadn’t come off the bench to swing at Bridges, who took a cheap shot at Jalen Duren whilst he was being held back by two people, the suspension may have been less, as it was the Hornets who escalated the situation, not Detroit.
The league may have taken this into account when only giving Stewart seven games, which left the window open for him to nab postseason awards.
Isaiah Stewart will have to be on his best behavior
I am notoriously awful with numbers, so please correct me if I am wrong, but by my count, Stewart has played at least 20 minutes in 40 games this season.
The Pistons have 29 games remaining, with Stewart missing six more of them due to suspension, leaving just 23 games for him.
To be eligible for the All-Defensive team, players need to appear in 65 games and play for 20 minutes in at least 63 of them.
That means if Stewart plays for at least 20 minutes in every remaining game, he’ll still be eligible for postseason awards.
This seems deliberate by the league as a way of saying, “we aren’t going to wipe out your chances, but if you screw up again, you’re not getting an award.”
If the league had suspended him for even one more game, this chance would have been gone, but they did gift Stew an opportunity even if the margins are razor thin.
That means no more ejections, no more suspensions and no more sitting out for minor injuries if Stewart wants to take his deserved spot on the All-Defensive team.
Stewart would probably tell you he doesn’t care and will do whatever it takes to help his team win (and defend his teammates) even if it costs him individual glory, but it would be nice to see multiple Pistons rewarded for their league-best defense that has carried them to the best record in the NBA at the All-Star break.
These last games will be a test to see if Stewart can maintain his poise while still providing the aggressive defense and enforcement that made him an All-Defensive candidate in the first place.