Isaiah Stewart gives Pistons fans another 'Bad Boys' moment

The Detroit Pistons could have the grittiest history of all NBA franchises. Just over 30 years ago, Isiah Thomas led the famous (or infamous) “Bad Boys” to a second-straight championship built on a hard-nosed mentality and style that some would call dirty today.

But it worked. And Pistons fans around the world wrapped their arms around the Bad Boys with unparalleled passion. With Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn giving “love taps” to legends like Michael Jordan and Larry Bird, the Pistons were able to channel the hatred that was thrown their way into two championships.

A decade-and-a-half later, the “Best Five Alive” – Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace – shocked the world when they lifted the Pistons over the Los Angeles Lakers featuring Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant to win a third championship for the franchise. And they did it with historic defense.

Now, the Pistons have committed to the rebuild. Despite being in the NBA’s basement for the last three seasons, the young core featuring Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey is fighting tooth-and-nail to prove that the Pistons are next in line to come upstairs. 

That young core also features third-year center Isaiah Stewart, who made a name for himself in the national landscape last season when he repeatedly attempted to charge at –- and potentially fight -– LeBron James. You read that correctly.