The Detroit Pistons have the best defense in the Eastern Conference and one of the top defenders in the NBA, who is finally receiving some notice from the league.
The Pistons’ longest-tenured player, forward Isaiah Stewart, was named Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month for games played in December, the league announced Friday.
For the month, Stewart continued a wildly successful season by recording 28 total blocks, averaging 2.2 per game and tying his career-high with five blocks against the Atlanta Hawks to begin December.
Despite coming off the bench in all but one game during the month — where the East-leading Pistons went 9-4 — Stewart posted multiple blocks in eight games and had more than three blocks five times.
Stewart, 24, became a true defensive fixture for the Pistons last season as they completed their historic turnaround to reach the postseason for the first time since 2019.
This year he’s combining a steady diet of offense, averaging 10 points per game, while being second in the NBA in blocks and leads the league in defended field-goal percentage at the rim at 43%.
Although not part of award consideration, a five-block performance on Thursday saw Stewart surpass 400 career blocks, becoming the 10th player in franchise history to do so.
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren took the Western Conference award, while Stewart beat out OG Anunoby (New York), Mikal Bridges (New York), Scottie Barnes (Toronto), Evan Mobley (Cleveland) and Derrick White (Boston) for his award.
Detroit dominated monthly awards for November as guard Cade Cunningham was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month and J.B. Bickerstaff named Coach of the Month.
Stewart is in his sixth season with the Pistons after being selected 16th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft. He’s played under three different coaches and seen plenty of other players come and go from the roster, but Stewart is finally being considered among the elite defenders in the league.