1. Detroit Qualities
Stewart has the Detroit Pistons attitude. We win with guys like him. Every great Detroit team starts with someone willing to do things that aren't celebrated, flashy, or mainstream. Stewart doesn't go out to grab headlines and score a bunch. The energy, hustle, and undeterred effort make him a perfect fit in Detroit.
2. Does the Dirty Work
This goes hand in hand with the first one. Stewart is rebounding, battling for position, extending possessions with tips, and drawing fouls from aggravated opponents (see below) seemingly every possession. We celebrate these things as Pistons fans but most of them don't show up in the boxscore. He plays to win, and for him, that means doing the things other players aren't willing to do.
3. Changes the Game
Every time Stewart steps on the floor, he seems to have an instant positive impact. This is a rare quality for a rookie, especially one who doesn't do a lot of scoring. That is what makes him so impressive. If this sounds repetitive, good. That's the point. Not enough can be said for a player who changes the game without scoring. Every great team has someone like that. Draymond Green and Rajon Rondo may be the most notable of recent years but the Pistons have had Dennis Rodman and Ben Wallace. These are lofty comparisons for someone in their first season as a pro; however, he doesn't have to live up to them to be the best of the Pistons rookies. He only has to be rarer, and guys like this are rare.
4. Frustrates Opponents
Again, his style of play agitates his matchups. Game after game, we've witnessed frustrated centers; Joel Embiid, Montrezl Harrell, DeMarcus Cousins, Dwight Howard, and James Wiseman. If he can get opponents thinking about him and not about the game, that's a victory in itself. Having guys like Embiid in foul trouble or playing outside of their gameplan serves the Pistons' interests. We want players to worry about Stewart: "How can I get back at him?" It's the same quality I like about Josh Jackson. They frustrate people. They're annoying. It's awesome.
5. The Type of Player We Need To Compete at a Higher Level
As I mentioned before, we need more guys like Stewart. Guys that do the little things, annoy the other team, and positively change the game. He doesn't have to be Dennis Rodman or Ben Wallace to be successful. He could be Anderson Varejao. I HATED that guy. Andres Nocioni. I hated him, too. He could just be a scrappy guy that rebounds and annoys the other team. He would still be the best rookie in my book. Scorers are a dime a dozen. Guys like Stewart are a rarer find. If he develops an offensive game, that's just extra. In fact, the best part of him developing an offensive game would be that he would be on the floor more to do the other stuff, the more important stuff. Competitive teams always have guys like Stewart. Now we have one, too. Let's just hope that translates sooner rather than later.
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