The Detroit Pistons will be getting a boost this afternoon when they take on the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. Isaiah Stewart makes his return to the lineup after his two-game suspension for his role in the melee at Little Caesars Arena earlier this week against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
And head coach Dwane Casey is happy to have him back – and refuses to let what happened on Sunday reflect who Stewart is as a person and a player.
“Hopefully he learned from it, and I don’t fault him for reacting how he did initially,” Casey explained before today’s game. “But just the next two steps of continuing is what he needs to learn from. He made his point, and he’s a beautiful kid. This whole incident doesn’t reflect who he is as a man. He did made a mistake counting on with it. But with that said, you love his fight and spirit and that’s what he brings to the table.”
“He’s remorseful for it,” Casey continued. “But one thing he can’t do is let that take away his spirit; he needs to maintain it because that’s his NBA skill. His fight, his spirit, his stick with it attitude. Heshouldn’t go out and play with his tail between his legs, but be the same Isaiah he was before the incident.”
Stewart is averaging 7.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG and 1.1 APG so far in 2021. He and the Pistons take on the Clippers this afternoon at 3:30 PM EST on Bally Sports Detroit.
– – Quotes via Bally Sports Detroit Link – –