As if things could not get worse for the 6-41 Detroit Pistons, the worst team in the NBA, news broke recently that “Isaiah Stewart is expected to miss at least 10-to-14 days” due to injury. Should this timeline be accurate for Stewart’s recovery, it is possible the Pistons will not see him in action again until after All-Star Weekend.
Pistons center Isaiah Stewart is expected to miss at least 10-to-14 days with an ankle sprain, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 1, 2024
This news comes after the big man “tweaked his ankle” against the Oklahoma City Thunder this past Sunday:
Stewart tweaked his ankle while awkwardly catching a poor entry pass into the post during Sunday’s win over the Thunder. He was visibly frustrated as he hobbled to the locker room.
In 35 games played this season, Stewart is averaging 11 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Additionally, the 22-year-old is shooting a career-high 37.4% from the three-point line.
NBA News: Detroit Pistons Big Man Out “At Least 10-to-14 Days”
How Will Detroit Work Around the Isaiah Stewart Injury?
As for who will start in Stewart’s place until he returns, it seems like there are a few different options.
In a January game against the Milwaukee Bucks, the only game the Pistons brought Stewart off the bench for, Detroit started Kevin Knox at power forward next to Jalen Duren. Though he has only started nine total games this season, there is a case for Knox to receive the starting role in the meantime.
This season, Knox is averaging 7.7 points per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. His ability to stretch the floor is what makes him useful in the Pistons’ offense.
In last night’s loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, interestingly, the Pistons started Mike Muscala at power forward. However, Muscala left the game four minutes in with a head injury. At this time, it is unclear when he will return to action. In his place, the Pistons gave more minutes to long-time NBA forward Danilo Gallinari, who was playing just his third game with the team.
The Pistons do not take the court again until tomorrow night against the Los Angeles Clippers. It should be interesting to see who gets the bump in place of the injured Stewart.
The Last Word
Stewart is not an All-Star at this point in his career. Even so, losing him is a big blow for the Pistons. This is especially true considering how bad of a season they have had up to this point. With Stewart missing time, the Pistons will be without a forward/big man who can make an impact on the game, especially defensively. In October, Stewart mentioned how important defense is to his game:
“If it is one personal goal, it’s on the defensive end for me,” Stewart said. “I want to be All-Defensive Team, and hopefully once I get that, then I get to Defensive Player of the Year. Those are really my two goals for me.”
The Pistons currently have a 120.3 Defensive Rating, second-worst in the NBA behind the Charlotte Hornets. Losing Stewart, even if for a brief time, may make things even worse for Detroit.
