According to the Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, big man Isaiah Stewart has established himself as the NBA’s top interior defender.
Stewart is currently posting a career-high average of 2.4 blocks per game, a mark that underscores his growing impact on the defensive end.
“He’s the best rim protector in the league,” Bickerstaff said, emphasizing Stewart’s ability to read plays and react with precision.
“His timing, anticipation, always being early to the spot,” he added, highlighting the instincts that make the player such a reliable presence around the basket.
Bickerstaff went on to praise Stewart’s toughness and mindset, noting that his approach is rooted in courage and accountability.
“It’s a fearlessness, right? Where a lot of people would just get out of the way because they don’t want to get dunked on anymore, Isaiah doesn’t mind,” he said.
“He’s going to go up there and he’s going to challenge anybody because it’s the right thing to do. And that’s his responsibility for this team – protect the rim. It doesn’t matter to him the outcome, because he’s going to get more times than he’s been got.”
Stewart has played 6 seasons for the Pistons. He has averaged 8.6 points and 7.1 rebounds in 315 regular-season games.
Pistons Notes: Cunningham, Stewart, Harris, Duren, Fast Start https://t.co/8EpURyL5RC pic.twitter.com/uyplq11yZG
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) November 6, 2025
