Pistons Preparing for Return of Injured Big Man Soon

Isaiah Stewart is ramping up for a return.

After concluding a back-to-back set against two Western Conference opponents, the Detroit Pistons will join the rest of the NBA for the 2024 NBA All-Star break. The time off will serve as a good period for Detroit’s starting big man, Isaiah Stewart, to get healthy and ready for the final couple months of the season.

According to The Athletic’s James Edwards III, Stewart has started his ramp-up and re-conditioning phase, gearing up for a return soon. Barring any setbacks, Stewart should be able to return “immediately after the break.”

Following a 16-point win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on January 28, the Pistons announced that Stewart would miss at least two weeks of action as he recovered from an ankle injury.

Since then, Stewart has missed seven straight games. The team’s final game before the break against the Phoenix Suns will mark the eighth consecutive absence for the veteran big man. 

In 35 games this year, Stewart has averaged 31 minutes. He’s producing near his career-high level of production, putting up 11 points per game and doing it much more efficiently. On 8.6 field goal attempts per game, Stewart has connected on 47 percent of his attempts. From deep, he’s hit on 37 percent of his threes. Along with his offensive contributions, the Pistons will look forward to getting Stewart’s rebounding value back on the boards.

Following the Wednesday night matchup in Phoenix, the Pistons will get a week off before they head to this year’s All-Star home, the Gainbridge Fieldhouse, to take on the Indiana Pacers. In ten games against the Pacers throughout the course of his career, Stewart has averaged ten points and nine rebounds versus Indiana. 

Next week’s outing will serve as the third meeting between the two teams this season.