DETROIT — The NBA announced on Friday that the Detroit Pistons’ Isaiah Stewart had been named Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month for December.
Stewart helped the Pistons go 9-4 during the month, averaging 2.2 blocks per game. As the defensive anchor, Stewart was instrumental in the Pistons’ defensive success throughout December, when they posted the league’s third-best defense. They produced a defensive net rating of 109.8 while holding their opponents to an average of 110.7 points per game.
Stewart delivered his best defensive performance during Detroit’s 99-98 victory over the Atlanta Hawks at Little Caesars Arena on Dec. 1. He tied his career-high by recording five blocks. Throughout the month of December, Stewart recorded two or more blocks in a game eight times and three or more blocks five times.
“He’s the best defensive center in the league, and it’s not even close,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said on Dec. 5. “I think it is time for everyone who watches basketball to recognize it. It is not just something we will see in Detroit. He is the best defensive big in the game.”
Stewart currently ranks third in the league this season in blocks. He is averaging a career-high 2.0 rejections in 31 games. He also leads the league in defended field-goal percentage at the rim, limiting his opponents to 43% shooting.
Stewart shares the honor of Defensive Player of the Month with Chet Holmgren from the Oklahoma City Thunder. While earning the honor in the Western Conference, Holmgren averaged 7.9 rebounds and 2.0 blocks while helping the Thunder go 11-3 in the month.