Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons are going to miss one of their top reserves for quite some time.
Before the Pistons reached the All-Star break, they engaged in a chippy matchup with the Charlotte Hornets. The two teams have had many battles during the Cunningham-Stewart run in Detroit, and the intensity is never lacking.
However, this time around, a chippy play went too far. Four players were ejected after an on-court altercation, and all four were slapped with suspensions as well. Stewart's was the longest, considering the circumstances.
An NBA announcement confirmed that Stewart would be forced to miss seven games for leaving the bench area, aggressively entering an on-court altercation, and fighting. Stewart's suspension history also played a part in the length.
For the backup center, the suspension will be costly. He's not getting hit with a fine, but he'll lose out on seven games’ worth of paychecks. According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, Stewart will lose $712,138 over that time.
Would Cade Cunningham Pick Up the Tab?
There have been plenty of times over the years where Cunningham had to get a fired-up Stewart to settle down.
But Cunningham isn't frustrated with his teammate. In fact, if Stewart asked him to pick up the tab on his fines/unpaid games, the max-contracted All-Star claims he would, after giving it some thought.
"I would. That's my brother, man," Cunningham said.
"He's just the ultimate competitor. He's somebody that's going to have your back like nobody else. I mean, it's costly, but he's the man. I wouldn't trade him for the world. He's the best teammate you could ask for. I'll help him out a little bit. I mean, it's not even helping him out. He has the money for it, but it's just paying for that love and that loyalty that he brings every day. I feel that. I'm going to holler at him about that."
How Much Does Isaiah Stewart Make?
In 2024, Stewart's rookie extension kicked in. He inked a four-year deal with the Pistons, set to earn him $60 million over time.
This year, Stewart is collecting $15 million. He's guaranteed that much next season as well. In 2027, the Pistons will have a $15 million option on the table. Having Stewart on the roster for the 2027-2028 season will be up to them.
As Cunningham suggested, Stewart is well off. Not playing on his original rookie deal is a plus when you land in hot water with the league.
This season, Stewart has appeared in 48 games, averaging 23.3 minutes per game. The veteran has posted averages of 10.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game.
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