Stewart’s Revenge: From Dunked On to Defense King

Stewart’s Revenge: From Dunked On to Defense King

For two seasons, Detroit Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart became an unintended fixture on highlight reels, often for the wrong reasons. The physical center, known for his tenacity, found himself on the wrong end of several SportsCenter Top 10 plays, particularly spectacular dunks. But Stewart is quick to point out that those early career struggles were a crucial catalyst for his evolution into one of the league’s premier rim protectors.

The Paul George Nightmare

When asked about his least favorite highlight reel moment, Stewart didn’t hesitate. “Oh yeah, Paul George,” he recalled, a hint of lingering frustration in his voice. The incident occurred during a matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers. “Paul George, we’re playing the Clippers and uh I think he he crossed over um one of my vets, Wayne Ellison, and and just uh flushed it on me and I was pissed.”

The play itself was a blur of offensive brilliance from George and defensive misfortune for Stewart. After a slick crossover that left veteran Wayne Ellington stumbling, George drove hard to the basket and finished with a powerful dunk right over Stewart. The immediate aftermath saw Stewart ejected from the game, a decision that only amplified his anger.

A Sideline Inferno

Sparks were flying on the Pistons’ bench as Stewart stewed. “I got taken out the game. I’m on the sideline, you know, got the vets telling me, ‘Yo, Steu, chill.’ I was so pissed,” Stewart admitted. His anger wasn’t directed at a single target. “Everybody, [laughter] everybody. I was pissed at Wayne. I was pissed at the bench because, you know, I got dunked on. The guys had a reaction like like [laughter] this. So, I was extra pissed.”

The reaction from his teammates, while perhaps intended to be supportive or even humorous in hindsight, only fueled Stewart’s frustration. He felt the collective embarrassment of the moment, amplified by the fact that he had become a recurring subject of these highlight-reel plays.

The Turning Point

But within that anger, a fire was lit. “But then that moment, I’m like, man, screw this,” Stewart declared. “And I was probably more pissed because I just got dunked on. I told you every week I was on Sports Center getting dunked on.” The repeated exposure on national television, often for plays that highlighted his defensive shortcomings, became a powerful motivator.

Stewart’s perspective on these moments is remarkably mature. Despite the embarrassment and frustration, he doesn’t harbor resentment towards the players who dunked on him or the platform that showcased it. Instead, he views it as an essential part of his development. “And but I ain’t have no shame in it though because you know like I said that process you know helped and allowed me to you know be the best uh you know rim protector in the league.”

From Target to Protector

The journey from being a frequent victim of highlight-reel dunks to becoming a dominant defensive force is a testament to Stewart’s resilience and work ethic. He embraced the criticism and used it as fuel to hone his craft. His ability to read offenses, time his jumps, and alter shots has transformed him from a player susceptible to getting posterized into a player opponents fear attacking the rim against.

Stewart’s transformation underscores a vital lesson in professional sports: setbacks can often be the most potent catalysts for growth. The sting of being dunked on repeatedly served as a constant reminder and a driving force behind his dedication to becoming a lockdown defender. Now, instead of appearing on SportsCenter for the wrong reasons, Isaiah Stewart is making headlines for his suffocating defense and his impact on winning.

Source: "My first two years I spent a lot of time on SportsCenter getting dunked on." — Isaiah Stewart #nba (YouTube)