Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
What’s your expectations on what the Jamaican national team can do going forward? Norman Powell: “It’s about retooling and seeing what we need to do. We have a lot of interest from NBA guys – Devin Vassell, the Thompson twins, the Champagnie brothers, Isaiah Stewart and a couple of other guys that want to play. So it’s about figuring out how we can get as many NBA guys and top-talented guys that are a part of the team. Jamaica is in a tough spot because they have that rule with FIBA where you have to have your Jamaican citizenship or passport the time you’re 16 to 18 years old. We’re trying to get FIBA to get the rules changed. A lot of the guys that have Jamaican descent or heritage are being penalized for something that their parents didn’t do or their grandparents moved away from Jamaica. They didn’t know the national team was a thing since it’s been 15 years since we first played a game. So we’re trying to work with FIBA to get it changed or altered. It’s putting a damper on what Jamaica is able to do with being able to compete at a very high level because a lot of these guys’ parents didn’t get their dual citizenship. That’s tough.”
Stewart said he believes Jalen 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.”
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.
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.”
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.”
Advertisement
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.”
“[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.”
Despite offseason acquisitions of Isaiah Stewart and Quinten Post, along with the return of Zach Edey, the Grizzlies want to retain Olivier-Maxence Prosper, HoopsHype has learned. Prosper was a breakout player for the Grizzlies amid a difficult season, averaging 10.0 points on 54.9 percent shooting from the field and 40.5 percent from downtown, while starting 24 of 53 games played last season.
Legion Hoops: LeBron on seeing Isaiah Stewart charge at him: “He’s chasing the sh*t out of me and I’m like get this big motherf**ker up off me. That’s a big boy.”
Advertisement
Per the NBA’s transaction wire, a lot of Pistons trades are now official. They’ve acquired John Collins, Taurean Prince and Gary Harris and traded Isaiah Stewart, Caris LeVert and Marcus Sasser.
— Omari Sankofa II (@omarisankofa.bsky.social) 2026-07-08T18:09:59.393Z
Shams Charania: The Golden State Warriors decided not to match Quinten Post's three-year, $30 million offer sheet with the Grizzlies, allowing the 7-footer to join Memphis, sources tell ESPN. The Grizzlies add Post to a reshaped frontline that includes No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer, Zach Edey, Isaiah Stewart and
Shams Charania: Dallas is sending Middleton to the Wizards via sign-and-trade as part of a larger six-team deal that includes, in total, the Mavericks, Wizards, Clippers, Pistons, Bucks and Grizzlies. It involves previously agreed upon deals such as John Collins, Gary Harris and Taurean Prince (Detroit), Isaiah Stewart (Memphis), Santi Aldama (Mavericks), Caris LeVert (Bucks), etc.
