Memphis Grizzlies newcomer Isaiah Stewart is adjusting to life with his new team after being traded by the Detroit Pistons.
In what's been a busy offseason for the Memphis Grizzlies, one move that is sure to make an impact this coming season is the addition of big man Isaiah Stewart.
The Grizzlies acquired Stewart in June, and he's now getting acclimated with his new team after spending each of his first six NBA seasons with the Detroit Pistons.
As he gets ready for his debut season in Memphis, he has connected with teammates, a process that he has seemingly enjoyed.
“You compete against these guys for a few years. Now you’re teammates with them and you get to know who they are as a person,” Stewart said, via the Commercial Appeal. “That’s been great. Getting to know the guys and seeing who I’m rocking with.”
Stewart has already started working out with a number of his Grizzlies teammates, and he has made some observations.
“These are very physical, athletic guys,” he said. “They’re ready to go, and I’m excited to be able to compete with them. I think we’re going to be able to show the city a lot. I look forward to competing with them.”
He added that he believes his experience with the Pistons, who went through a successful rebuild during his time there, is something he can bring to the Grizzlies.
“It’s an experience I can bring here to this group,” he said. “And also just letting them know it’s about patience. We have to stack days. It doesn’t happen overnight.”
Stewart has said that he feels "wanted" by the Grizzlies, something he's thankful for as opposed to heading back to a situation that wouldn't have been "the best" for him.
The 25-year-old saw his playing time decrease in his last couple of seasons with the Pistons after previously holding a consistent starting job. That role peaked in the 2023-24 season, when he averaged 30.9 minutes per game as a starter.
Unfortunately, he was relegated to a bench gig the following season, which came with a major drop in minutes to just 19.9 per game. He was once again a sixth man this past season, though he did see a little more playing time at 22.7 minutes per contest. He made the most of the situation by finishing seventh in the Sixth Man of the Year race.
But his playoff role was not large. When the Pistons lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, he was on the floor for just over six minutes in total.
A change of scenery might have been a necessary step for him this offseason. The Pistons, for what it's worth, reportedly wanted to do right by him and trade him to a team where he'd have a chance to compete for more minutes.
While Stewart isn't likely to begin the 2026-27 season in the starting lineup, he is going to get his chances to impact winning in Memphis. Last season, even in primarily a bench role, he averaged a solid 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game.
It helps that he's been through a successful rebuild before, as that's exactly what the Grizzlies are looking to accomplish in the coming seasons. If Stewart can help Memphis get there, he may start to develop a reputation as a player who helps struggling teams get out of the woods.
