Detroit Pistons power forward basketball player Isaiah Stewart was a figure of pride holding his new team jersey that displayed the number 28 in black, green and gold in honour of his Jamaican heritage.

The moment was part of a Pistons unveiling, in which themed country jerseys were presented to its players whose familial heritage hails from across the globe in celebration of World Basketball Day on December 21, 2024

The 23-year-old American, born in Rochester to Jamaican father Dela Stewart, made the post on his Instagram page.

“My Jamaican heritage means a lot to me,” said Stewart sporting a Rastafarian hairstyle while speaking in Patios, the island’s dialect.

“You know, obviously, my father is from Jamaica and you know he raised me and my brother and you know, just growing up and just seeing that side of the family, always been around that side of the family, it means a lot to me,” he explained.

“That’s the warrior bloodline, so, it means a lot to me. That heritage mean a lot,” he reiterated.

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Stewart, standing at 6 feet 8 inches and weighing 250 pounds, plays as centre or power forward position for the Pistons.

In 28 games this season, he is currently averaging 5.9 points per game, 5.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists per game shooting at an average 54.6 percent from the field.

Stewart is averaging 9.0 points a game of his career spanning 263 games.

Stewart was drafted 16th overall by Portland Trailblazers in 2020 and was traded to Houston Rockets then to Detroit a few days later.

He will be more famous for his 2021 bust up with NBA talisman Lebron James after receiving an elbow to his face which left him bloodied charging at James multiple times and picked up a two-game suspension.

On July 10, 2023, it was reported that Stewart had agreed to a four-year, US$64 million contract extension with the Pistons.

Then on February 14, 2024, Stewart was arrested in Phoenix for assault after allegedly punching Drew Eubanks of Phoenix Suns in a parking lot.

Stewart who idolises New York Knicks Jamaican-born legend Patrick Ewing, led the United States at the 2018 FIBA Under-17 World Cup gold medal averaging 11.1 points and 8.4 rebounds in seven games in Argentina.