Isaiah Stewart is happy about ‘new chapter’ with Memphis Grizzlies

DE LUZ, Calif. — Before a recent offseason workout, Isaiah Stewart looked at the Memphis Grizzlies logo on his new light blue long-sleeve shirt and smiled. “I’m representing,” he said.

Stewart spent the past six seasons of highs and lows with the Detroit Pistons, becoming their longest-tenured player. But after front-office turnover in 2024 and a limited playoff role this past season, the 25-year-old felt his days in Detroit were numbered and prayed for change.

During the second round of the NBA draft in June, Stewart was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.

“I’m excited. I think this looks good on me, too — this Grizzly blue,” Stewart told Andscape from his 28-acre farm and residence last week.

Since being drafted out of the University of Washington with the 16th pick in the 2020 NBA draft (a pick made by Portland but promptly traded to Detroit), Stewart became the Pistons’ emotional heartbeat and defensive anchor. Over six regular seasons with the franchise, he logged 365 games and averaged 8.8 points and 6.8 rebounds.

Stewart, a 6-foot-8, 250-pound forward, developed into a big man with perimeter skills as Detroit turned things around. The Pistons went from the worst team in the NBA — highlighted by a 28-game losing streak in 2023-24 — to 60 wins and the best record in the Eastern Conference last season.

The Rochester, New York, native said he will always have fond memories of his time in Detroit.

“I have just so much love for the city of Detroit,” Stewart said. “They welcomed me with open arms. Coming in at 19, I instantly went to the community just naturally. There are a lot of great people that are doing a lot of great things in Detroit.”

Stewart said he is still very close to former Pistons general manager Troy Weaver, who was fired in 2024 and now works for the New Orleans Pelicans. Weaver was replaced by Trajan Langdon, who was named the Pistons’ president of basketball operations. Stewart said Langdon told him during their first meeting in the summer of 2024 that he could be a trade candidate.

But Stewart spent two more seasons with Detroit, averaging 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game last season, shooting 55% from the field and finishing seventh in the 2026 NBA Sixth Man of the Year voting. He was also suspended for seven games by the NBA on Feb. 11 following a brawl against the Charlotte Hornets.

During the playoffs, Stewart’s production dipped to 4.0 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game over 14 games. After averaging 22.7 minutes per game in the regular season, he logged just 11.8 minutes per contest in the postseason. The Pistons’ championship aspirations ended in the second round with a loss to the fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.

“Bittersweet. We had a great season,” Stewart said. “Sixty wins. No. 1 in the East. And that’s how I always pictured Detroit being since I got drafted — bringing back that identity, that toughness brand to Detroit. I feel like we did that in the regular season. And the playoffs came and it didn’t go exactly how we planned or talked about.”

Stewart said that last season he felt his time with the Pistons was ending. Feeling unappreciated and confused by why things had changed, he and his wife, Kiley, prayed for a trade to a team that valued him.

“When things are out of your control, the only thing you can do is pray,” Stewart said. “And I was in a situation where you will work so hard and you have a goal, you are putting your all into something, and you’re not able to get a certain opportunity or reap that kind of reward.

“You don’t know why, and it’ll make you question yourself, stress yourself out because of the passion and love you have for the game. We felt all we could do is just pray. Let the Lord figure it out, because He always works things out for us.”

While receiving holistic care in Tijuana, Mexico, on June 24, Stewart learned from his agent, Drew Gross, that a trade was likely. Initially expected to land with the Los Angeles Lakers or Washington Wizards, Stewart instead discovered he was dealt to the rebuilding Grizzlies.

“[Gross] called me back a couple of minutes later and said, ‘Hey, Trajan called. He’s telling me he got a deal from Memphis that he can’t turn down,’” Stewart said. “And a few minutes later it came out that I got traded to Memphis. I didn’t know how to feel. I wasn’t mad about it. I was happy that I was moving on to a new chapter.

“At first I was like, ‘Man, so first time I got traded in my career, and I’m in Memphis.’ New teammates, new guys in the system. My mind just started going that way. And I’m thankful because I’m somewhere where I’m really wanted. And the fanbase already respects and loves who I am. I’d rather be where I’m wanted than headed back into a situation where it’s not the best.”

Stewart said Pistons All-Stars Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren “wished me well” in phone calls after the trade. The Pistons also lost starting forward Tobias Harris to the San Antonio Spurs in free agency this offseason, but they added forward John Collins, rookie guard Ebuka Okorie and veterans Taurean Prince, Gary Harris and Isaiah Joe.

Duren remains an unsigned restricted free agent because of a contract standoff with the Pistons. While the 2026 All-NBA third-team selection is seeking a near-max contract, Detroit is offering about $35 million to $38 million annually following his disappointing playoff performance.

Stewart said he believes Duren should be rewarded.

“It’s tricky, but [Duren] proved he’s worth what he’s asking for to the organization, if you ask me,” Stewart said. “They act like they want him to prove it [before last season], and I felt he proved it. He was an All-Star, third-team All-NBA. I feel like he should get paid. He’s a huge core piece. Bring him back. …

“He’s been getting better every year. Third-year All-Star? Like come on, give him the bag. But at the same time, I hope it works out and I hope he gets that money at the end of the day.”

Meanwhile, the Grizzlies are undergoing changes of their own.

Since 2023, they have traded core players such as Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane and Dillon Brooks. After winning just 25 games last season, the retooled Grizzlies drafted Duke center Cameron Boozer, the son of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer, with the third pick in the 2026 draft. Memphis also acquired veteran forward Jerami Grant and have young talent on their roster in Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells, GG Jackson and Zach Edey.

Though the Grizzlies aren’t projected to win much next season, Stewart believes Memphis will compete.

“I’m excited. It’s a great opportunity,” he said. “There are a lot of hungry young guys out there, too. We all fit. We all mesh. I look forward to putting my best foot forward to doing the best I can to help this rebuild and turn this around. …

“I got a chance to go to [Memphis] and see where I am living. I’ve met some new teammates. The one thing I noticed was that I was embraced right away. I’m walking into the hotel and the staff is dapping me up and telling me they’re so excited to have me there. I knew right away I’m going to fall in love with the city, and they’re going to respect and love what I do for the city and the organization.”

Another reason Stewart is excited about coming to Memphis is his hope of reviving the team’s “Grit & Grind” tradition.

Former Grizzlies players Tony Allen, Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol and Mike Conley built a physical, blue-collar basketball culture in Memphis in the 2010s. Their relentless defense, inside scoring and toughness matched the city’s identity. It all started after a tough overtime win in November 2011, when Allen looked into a sideline camera and said, “All heart, grit, grind.”

Stewart, arguably the NBA’s toughest player, certainly fits the old Grizzlies’ reputation. He said he hopes to meet Allen and believes the tradition can be revived by himself, Edey and Boozer.

“I’m familiar with it. Z-Bo [Randolph], Tony Allen, that era,” Stewart said. “I know they’re dogs — dogs who created that ‘Grit & Grind.’ That is something I want to bring back to the city, the team and get behind that. Let’s do it.”

Stewart moved his belongings from Detroit to his new home in suburban Memphis last week before returning to his farm in Southern California. New York-based basketball trainer Jason Cooper has been working with Stewart at a high school in nearby Temecula. Cooper said he has been conditioning Stewart under the guidance of the Grizzlies’ performance staff.

“Obviously, he is going to a new situation, a new opportunity,” Cooper told Andscape after a workout with Stewart on July 29. “So, we are just making sure he stays sharp in certain areas — making sure he is shooting the ball really well, especially out of the actions [like] the pick-and-pops and when he screens down.

“Just being prepared and ready to go. He’s in great shape right now, and he’s been working hard throughout the offseason. [I’m] just making sure he’s moving forward and ready to camp.”

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