[Sanfoka] JB Bickerstaff on Isaiah Stewart: “He’s the best defensive center in the league and it’s not close. And I think it’s time that everybody who watches basketball recognizes it.
Mf really saying this in a league where Wemby exists.
A league where mitch Robinson occasionally exists
And in which Rudy Gobert has embraced the bald.
And Trae Young roams the paint
Somewhere, Ben Simmons trembles
A league where Chet exists.
Even an aging Gobert clears Beef Stew
Part-time center AD clears him too.
Gobert ends up on the bench in the playoffs when he is forced to guard the perimeter.
and Isaiah Stewart watches that from the couch
Still further than the pistons the last 2 years, and he turned into prime Shaq against the lakers game 5 last year lol
Username does not checkout
As opposed to playoff legend Stewart with 19 career minutes played
Lol
If only my center lost his shit and tried to kill somebody every two weeks we’d be a better defensive team
Sure, Isaiah Stewart isn’t even top 5 so we can mention anyone at that level before him.
But he is the best defensive center in the league named Isaiah Stewart
And Ryan Nembhard
Also a league where Jay Huff exists
Jay Huff is the most beautiful human walking the earth and it’s not even close.
Can we as a specie please finally acknowledge this?
He hasn’t existed much lately.
wemby too skinny for beef stew
He said what he said 😤
draymond clears all
Nah nah nah we only acknowledge Draymond’s generational defensive talents in sub-Top 3 comment chains in threads specifically about the Warriors. This thread hasn’t met the topic prerequisites or contributor-count threshold so we gotta stick to the usual shit talk.
I’ll pencil you in the next time the Dubs win and Dray misses a triple double due to points
But Wemby hasn’t played a full season yet. The best trait a player can have is availability.
since Wemby came into the league Stu has played only 10 more games than him, not a huge discrepancy like he played double the amount of games or something crazy
I’d bet Victor played a lot more minutes too
3329 Beef Stew vs 4029 Wemby in the last 3 years
He played 71 games his rookie year
He played 71 games his rookie season two years ago.
Tbf 71 games isn’t a full season. Chet played 82 games and the playoffs his second season and people still say he is injury prone…
Because he missed his entire rookie season due to injury and 50 games in his 3rd year. Wemby’s longest streak of missed games wasn’t even an injury. It was blood clots.
Chet’s was a broken bone in his foot and then a broken hip. Those are quite different than say, a muscle strain and close to a blood clot. Just a freak something that happened.
You’re splitting hairs and not logically. Both of the things you named happened in a game. He broke his hip while contesting a shot.
But that doesn’t make him “injury prone” does it? Injury prone is like Embiid, Ingram, Kawhi, where you know some muscle thing will happen eventually and they will miss 30 games.
Dude, just look up a dictionary to learn the meaning of the word “injury” after you’re done herding the cows back to the farm.
Because he is
You can be the best defensive player in the league without winning DPOY. Just like you can be the best player in the league without winning MVP every year.
Okay, but last year he still played more minutes than Stewart has played in all but one season of his career. And he did it in only 46 games…
Valanciunas played 81 games last year. I’d rather have Wemby. Hot take.
Can “and it’s not close” die in 2025? it’s gotta be the most overused phrase lmao.
But yeah, as everyone else said he’s just very wrong. But that’s okay
It’s the most overused phrase and it’s not close
Literally.
It’s literally not literally.
It’s not even close
It’s streets behind
That’s crazy
Irregardless of what anyone else thinks.
And it’s not number two is top two phrase that needs to come back and it’s not number two.
its BY FAR the most overused phrase and ITS NOT CLOSE 😈😈
And I’m tired of being the only one saying it
People in this sub do it all the time it’s so annoying lol. Jokic will have a good game and it’ll be “best player in the world and it’s not close”, then Shai will have a good game and it’ll be the same thing. It’s like nah things can actually be close
That and ‘didn’t have _____ on my bingo card” please
This one can fuck off into the sun.
Maybe Im a crank and spend too much time on here, but I feel like people say that because it’s like an automatic Karma Booster.
Be original.
Shiiit I said this to my boss just last week. It was the last time, I promise.
It’s the ‘living rent free in your head’ of the NBA
I’m more of a “by a country mile” kinda guy.
bro is diabolical 💀🙏🏼
Is it a saying? Or just literal words?
Thanks Reddit
My absolute fucking pet peeve is when it is combined with “one of”.
Oh, X is one of the best Y, and it’s not even close somehow?
He’s wrong.. and it’s not close
At the end of the day, it is what it is.
Its truly so fucking annoying which means its here to stay. It usually identifies an overconfident dumbass statement I can ignore at least.
Nothing discredits an argument more than someone saying “not even close”
JB Bickerstaff just successfully convinced me there are dozens of interchangeable centers that are the exact same player on defense, none of which is significantly better than the rest
Also “and they’re not (insert number)” when talking about how good someone is. Like “Steph is a top two shooter in history and he isn’t number two”.
This jerkoff MF just issued the absolute worst, stupidest statement on NBA basketball so far this season. In a half decade, come to think of it.
AND
IT’S
NOT
CLOSE
Is it ok?
It’s a terrible look for him.
You think a coach hyping up one of his players is a terrible look?
This isn’t praising a player. Saying “I think he’s playing at a first team all defense level” is praising.
He just wants to get his boys hype. He’s wrong obviously lmao, but saying that likely wont hurt team morale. Stew might need a confidence boost!
Hate to be that guy but *hyped
“Hype” is a noun or a present-tense verb. If you’re using that as an adjective (as you are here) what you want is the past participle (“hyped”)
Sorry for being annoying but this shit drives me fuckin nuts for some reason
I know proper grammar. I didn’t think I’d be policed.
I’d be concerned if my coach wasn’t hyping up his players
“And it’s not close” JB spending too much time on Reddit lol
“One of us, one of us”
More likely twitter
So good they play him 22 mpg
Is this what it was like being a non-Celtics fan listening to Celtics fans talk about Marcus Smart in 2018?
What are you talking about smart avg like 30 a min that season. And no smart was legitimately the best perimeter defender in the league. Isaiah Stewart isn’t even the best defensive center on his own team
lol he’s easily the best defensive center on his team. You obviously haven’t watched many pistons games lol
well that’s when he usually fouls out anyway
Fake pistons flair? Stew has only fouled out 3 times and 2 of them were the first week of the season
If you foul that much, you’re not the best defensive player at your position
Very confidently wrong.
yeah but he’s just hyping up his guy
Yeah but everyone just out here lying all the time. No wonder discourse is dead.
Why would an nba coach care to participate in “discourse”
This is not right but comments in here exposing some of y’all. Isaiah Stewart is legitimately an elite rim protector.
Yet still behind Luke Kornet.
Not true but that’s fine
How come it’s never close? Lmao
I guess people run out of words to glaze a player so much that they have to say shit like this, “its not even close”, “he might be the greatest ever”, “I have never seen anything like this”. Like they can’t say he is good/great, bad/awful or just mediocre
And I think it’s time that everybody who watches basketball recognizes it.
Oh so this has no bearing on this sub then.
I go here so I don’t have to watch the games! Such a time saver
Their loss, they’ve been a fun team to watch this year
Is he better than Wemby? No but hes 3rd in Blocks in 22 MPG. Id say top 5.
I agree with your sentiment, and he probably is top five defensive centers, but I’m not sure mpg and bpg are the gauge. Jay Huff is leading in blocks with 18.3 mpg 🤣.
There was some other random defensive stat that he led the league in last year. Not sure where he falls so far this year. Something like shots altered or a change in opponent fg% or something. He’s extremely underrated, but JB is definitely over stating things to hype his guy up
Last I knew, he was second in the league in opponents FG percentage at the rim I believe.
Redditors are the type of people to tell one of their parents that they’re the second favorite, completely unprompted and be confused why they’re mad at them for telling the truth
I know people are flaming JB but Beef Stew is definitely among the best in the league.
I wouldn’t say best because of Wemby but Stew is an elite defensive player.
we just be saying stuff now huh
stuff
Wrong of course but what do you expect him to say
Could’ve just said “Stewart is one of the best defensive bigs in the league” and it end it there without it being a weird take. But I understand the having your players back attitude.
“Bucks in 6” was a “what do you expect him to say”moment. This is a coach choosing to hype his player up by saying that he’s significantly better than guys like Wemby/Gobert. I have no problem with it, but it’s not like his hands were tied.
Not sure why people are surprised by this. What do you want him to say, “He’s the sixth best defensive player in the league?” He says what he needs his players to hear.
“One of the best”
Why so nerds on reddit won’t come for him?
When you make a fool of yourself, it ain’t just Reddit that comes for you
“He’s one of the best defensive centers in the league”, flattering and still hyperbole without sounding like you have no idea what you’re talking about. The sentence as is reads almost as if he’s making fun of stewart.
“He’s one of the best defensive centers in the league” isn’t hyperbole
Nah you don’t know ball, stew really is elite elite
All the people in the replies to this showing just how much this sub sucks. Lol
I imagine all these idiots lookin like the lead singer from The National
Damn give folks some context idk what this means
This sounds like he’s being sarcastic and mocking Stewart lol
Nobody is surprised just like he shouldn’t be surprised to be clowned for his completely ridiculous take lol
“You are better than prime Olajuwon”
If you’re going to lie in the name of motivation, might as well really go for it.
He can say he’s the best without saying it isn’t even close lol. Somebody like Wemby is obviously about as good as it gets defensively
He could just have said “One of the Best”. He should at least be aware of what he is saying and how people will react.
Wemby? Mitchell Robinson? Gobert?
I can agree with Stewart being top 5, though.
He’s not but he is an incredibly scary defensive presence. Huge reason for their success so far.
yall, a coach is gonna pump up his players. Jesus christ yall are stupid
Definitely hyperbole but genuinely top 5
I mean, he has a chance to be the best since the tall guy who blocks shots is injured, but when Kessler is back, he’ll reclaim the throne
Kessler was about to have a CRAZY season, when I saw that mf banging threes and passing the rock in that first game I knew we were in for something special. He’s gonna be a beast next year
Kessler gotta play some winning ball to really be in these convos
I think he has the ability but being on bottom feeder that’s shutting guys down in January its hard for him to prove himself
Surely ihart is somewhere in there this season
I mean I would hope Kessler’s hart is in him this season
Lalalala I can’t hear yall lalalala
Lot of casuals in here (shocker). Stew is elite defensively
We all need to find someone who believes in us the way JB believes in Isaiah Stewart lol
Beef stew is scary
Beef Stew!
He’s shooting 41% from 3 if this is even remotely true Bickerstaff playing him 22 minutes a game it would be a fireable offense. Hall of fame level defense while being able to stretch the floor from the 5 and you’re leaving him on the bench?
i love me some beef stew just like everyone else, but. what
Mitch better
Mitch dominated Allen and Mobley right in front of Bickerstaff’s face for 5 games.
Gotta support your guys at all times lol especially the coach
Lmao did this man forget about Kelly Olynyk?
Bam better
JB Bickerstaff on Jarrett Allen in 2022: “He’s the best defensive center in the league and it’s not close. And I think it’s time that everybody who watches basketball recognizes it.
And then Mitchell Robinson dominated Allen and Mobley.
Anyone gonna mention Gobert? Defensive metrics consistently have him towards the top among centers
What😭
Obviously he’s wrong but you gotta hype up your players lol this isn’t that unusual
My workout today:
4 sets of GTFOH’s
is Stew even better than Duren ? Pistons fans, enlighten me.
Because of his badass attitude with boxing background?
How about you play him more than 22.5mpg then?
Oh, he’s putting up a career-worst 5.1 fouls per 75 possessions? That’s a knock on his defense.
simmer down there bud
i enjoyed watching shaedon sharpe yam on him twice after a questionable block
of course the blazers lost to keep the universe in balance but hey
Eh he jumps with anyone and gets dunked on a decent amount. He got Sharpe good though
Bro the block was way harder than the dunks why you tryna sneak that “questionable” in there, sharpe cocked it all the way back and tried to yam on him and stew said nah, the ones he made were way less cool he was just trying to get it in the rim as fast as he could to get back on stew
alright, but have you considered: shut up nerd
I just considered it and I’ve decided to keep yapping
that is just classic u/Beans800
Best Defensive End in the league*
Who cares about defensive centers anyway. This year it’s Cason Wallace winning DPOY.
Is Stewart holding his family hostage while he says this bullshit?
I think he meant he’s the best defensive center named Isaiah Stewart.
Not best defensive center Isaiah Stewart.
…hes not even top 5.
I love JB Bickerstaff. Especially when my Knicks play his teams in the playoffs.
Draymond is a PF is is probably better than him lmaoo
Not in 2025
Bam is way better.
He’s the most violent center in the league
Do coaches get drug tested?
I was not aware that Detroit had two football teams.
He’s one of the few guys that I would take draymond over
Nah not gonna recognize someone with anger issues
Absolutely laughable, if it wasn’t so insanely stupid, pigheaded, and soooooooooo wrong.
Maybe he meant to say everybody who watches only Pistons games and only focused on Detroit players?
The worst part is even then idk if that would be true? There are metrics that prefer Duren even to him. Is this just because he blocks a lot of shots and has been very good at protecting the rim in general so far this year?
I don’t understand. I don’t even think it’s controversial to say he isn’t a top 10 center defensively.
I think JB needs to watch some NBA games that do not feature the Pistons.
He’s not even the best undersized center on a playoff team out east.
Some people in here would be shocked he shoots 40% from 3 as well
17.6% FT
lol what? Thats not even remotely true
Well that sucks, I was trying to respond to a Knicks fan who said that Mitchell Robinson is better…
…is he better than duren?
Defensively yes
What is Duren lacking as a defender? For those who don’t watch Detroit closely (me).
I wouldn’t say he’s lacking anything, Stew is just an elite shot blocker
His motor is inconsistent but has been better this year. Stew is simply elite tho. He is able to jump 2,3,4 times in quick succession for blocks it’s a quite niche and absurdly good skill for shot blocking. Swear he touches the ground and he’s already back up at full apex for another block
really? I don’t watch alot of Detroit but when Orlando played them we could NOT score when Duren was on but when Stewart was on it seemed to come easy
That was a bad stew game looking at the box score now 🤷
By a chasm
WCJ better
The only highlights I ever see about him, is his fighting and complaining.