A return to the Detroit Pistons’ lineup was delayed for the veteran starter Isaiah Stewart due to an off-court incident that took place a couple of weeks back.
Heading into their final matchup before the NBA All-Star break, the Pistons planned to have Stewart miss one more game before ramping up his conditioning and returning right away when the league resumed the following week.
However, a physical altercation with Phoenix Suns veteran Drew Eubanks landed Stewart in some hot water. Not only did Stewart face legal trouble due to the incident, but the NBA’s investigation led to a three-game suspension.
The expected eight-game absence was extended to 11 in a row for Stewart.
“First and foremost, I apologize to my teammates and just the organization because I always want to represent the organization in good fashion,” Stewart told reporters on Thursday following practice.
Speaking publicly for the first time since the incident, Stewart wasn’t willing to acknowledge much about the incident itself. Instead, he made it clear that he was looking to move past it while showing appreciation for the support he received throughout the investigation and suspension process.
“I apologize to my teammates and my coaches just because we’ve been through a lot this season, and I don’t mean to bring nothing up on them,” Stewart added. “I also appreciate them having my back. They let me know that they have my back through tough and through great things.”
When the Pistons paid a visit to the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night, Stewart re-entered the Pistons’ starting five. He checked in for 34 minutes, draining four of his nine shots to produce 11 points. He nearly secured a double-double, coming just one rebound shy of ten.
“He brings so much to us that doesn’t always show up on the box score,” Cade Cunningham told reporters after Stewart’s first game back. “His toughness and the way he goes about rebounding the ball. The way that he talks to us. He’s just the ultimate glue guy. He’s somebody you want to play hard for because you know he’ll run through a wall for you. It’s great to have him back, and I think he was huge tonight. It doesn’t show up on the box score, but he does a lot of things that really helped us.”
With the suspension and ankle issues behind him, Stewart is here to stay for the Pistons, barring any further setbacks in the future. While the unknown about the incident remains a question mark to the public, Stewart would like to keep it that way as he moves forward.
“I’m glad to move past that and put that behind me,” he finished. “I appreciate the fans and the city for sticking with me. I’m ready just to get back out here, compete, and win games.”
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