The Detroit Pistons have two crucial yet stylistically dissimilar players on the squad in Duncan Robinson and Isaiah Stewart who can relate to each other in a way that few can
Throughout his eight-year NBA career, Duncan Robinson has had to deal with his fair share of unfair labels.
While operating as a clear-cut three-point sniper with the Miami Heat, Robinson’s long-range efficiency quickly began to overshadow other aspects of his game, and the 6-7 wing started to be pigeon-holed into the role of a strictly catch-and-shoot perimeter specialist.
But since arriving in Detroit, Robinson has worked to shed his reputation as a defensive liability, and he’s acquitted himself as a quietly versatile wing for the Pistons this season. In doing so, Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff asked Robinson to commit himself on the defensive end of the floor since that’s a pillar requirement to earn playing time in the Motor City. As a result, Robinson has started every game for the Pistons that he’s been healthy for, and the 40% three-point shooter has shown that there’s more to his game than just corner triples, but he supplies those as well.
Coincidentally, Robinson’s history as a player who was not appreciated to the full extent of his talent gives him a unique insight to a PR struggle that Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart has dealt with after picking up a seven-game suspension for fighting last month.
“One thing about Stew that really bothers me when I hear it publicly is that people try to boil him down to certain moments,” Robinson said on the Young Man and the Three podcast. “Stew does so much more than just being like a physical force or intimidator. Obviously, the protecting the rim thing is talked about, but passing, spacing the floor, there’s so much more to his game. People that actually watch Pistons games know that.”
Since Robinson had to outgrow his label as “just a shooter,” the eight-year vet can relate to Beef Stew when voices in the national media singularly harp on Stewart’s just one facet of his game. Even though Stewart’s brute force and physical presence in the paint earn the headlines, Beef Stew helps connect the Pistons offense as an acrobatic finisher around the rim who can step out behind the three-point line to knock down perimeter shots when left open as well.
Now that Robinson’s had an opportunity to play with Stewart for 65 games, the full depth of Beef Stew’s game has finally crystallized for his first-year teammate.
“I think people like national media or people that are tuning in and out might see the moments where he’s trying to be an enforcer the way that he is,” Robinson said. “I don’t know how you feel about that because we’ve actually never spoken about it, but when people try to boil you down to one thing, I think it just minimizes everything you do on the court, honestly.”
Robinson knows firsthand what it’s like to have one positive quality take over and dominate the narrative, so that’s a very specific area where the two stylistically dissimilar players can find some common ground. But regardless of how Stewart is perceived by the rest of the league, he’s earned the respect of his teammates inside the Pistons locker room.
“That’s Stew’s identity,” Robinson said. “He loves you like a brother, then he wants to hit you in the mouth when he’s competing against you, and that’s just how it is.”
Tonight, Robinson and Stewart will suit up for the Pistons against the Philadelphia 76ers for an Eastern Conference clash that’s set for a 7 pm tip-off.
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