Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart is one of the few players in the NBA who are ready to get physical and level up things but when he had an altercation with Milwaukee Bucks big man Bobby Portis last week, he was instantly restrained and he can’t allow it just like that. And so, he resorted to trash talking.
What was it that he said? Lip readers thought it was something NSFW but his coach JB Bickerstaff clarified things. He said it was something about cooking.
Bickerstaff was a guest at the Run It Back show and was asked about the altercation between the two players. Lou Williams, one of the hosts, suggested that Beef Stew was telling BP that he will punch in the s***. The coach debunked it.
“You’re wrong. He was talking about like ‘You need to mash the meat’ to make those smash burgers. That’s what he was saying,” Bickerstaff jokingly said while the hosts are hysterically laughing.
“‘Go home! Make some smash burgers.”
Lou’s lip reading of Isaiah Stewart was wrong… he was never going to punch Bobby Portis ❌🥊🤣
Pistons HC J.B. Bickerstaff clears the air — Chef Stew was talking about making smash burgers for dinner 🍔👨🍳 pic.twitter.com/P8WsKIoHkr
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) December 8, 2025
Of course, that’s not what really happened. Good thing for both sides though is that a full fight was prevented. Stewart was ejected as he was assessed his second technical foul. Pistons won the game.
Isaiah Stewart is best defensive center
Bickerstaff is loving the energy that Stewart is giving the team. However, fans thought that he should change his approach to the game now that he has a bigger role.
Pistons are contenders in the East and Stewart’s improvement is a huge part of that. Bickerstaff see him as the best defensive center in the league.
“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.”
– J.B. Bickerstaff on Isaiah Stewart
(Via @omarisankofa ) pic.twitter.com/LfYOK1s1js
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 8, 2025
Bickerstaff is not the only one seeing this. Even the critics. He was recently listed as among the Defensive Player of the Year frontrunners.
Team star Cade Cunningham thought he should be cited for the award.
“I think he’s the best defensive player in the league. I would love to see him get a Defensive Player of the Year award, because he deserves it,” he told reporters last week when asked about Beef Stew.
“I see opponents’ best defenders all the time. I’m thankful I don’t have to see Stew every night. He’s just different; he does it all. He can guard a quick, shifty point guard; he can go guard a bruising big man. He can do it all, and he’s going to meet everybody at the rim.”
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