NBA Draft: Grading every first-round pick after rookie year
. C. Detroit Pistons. Isaiah Stewart. 16. player. 64
NBA Draft: Grading every first-round pick after rookie year: 16. Isaiah Stewart
Stats:
- 7.9 points
- 6.7 rebounds
Most of the time, NBA squads are confused. Every team, including those who have been bad since the beginning of time, believe that they have a chance to turn things around. If a championship isn’t on their minds, then certainly a postseason trip is. For the Detroit Pistons, reality smacked them hard and fast.
As the team attempted to build around Blake Griffin for years, they realized that his long injury history simply wasn’t going to get better. That and his lack of no longer wanting to be there pushed him out the door. To replace him, the Pistons drafted Isaiah Stewart with the 16th overall pick out of Washington University.
Over the course of his rookie year, Stewart proved to be a tough defender, good rebounder and someone who’s willing to learn.
His 7.9 points and 6.7 rebounds a night were impressive considering that he only played 21.4 minutes a night. His numbers hit another level once we take a look at his per 36 minutes. If he can hit those 13.3 points and 11.1 rebounds that his numbers indicated over an entire season, Detroit fans will start saying “Blake who?”
Grade: B-