NBA Player Isaiah Stewart Finds Peace in Farming

Temecula, California — On a warm afternoon, NBA power forward Isaiah Stewart, 24, works tirelessly on his 28-acre farm in Temecula, California. The once basketball-focused athlete has traded the polished floors of the NBA for sweat-soaked shirts and the brown dirt of his newfound passion.

Growing up in Rochester, New York, Stewart never imagined he would become a farmer. His journey began with curiosity about crops and climate. “Obviously, growing up where I grew up, no one in a hundred years would think I’d become a farmer,” Stewart said.

That early interest was likely influenced by his father, Dela, who moved from Jamaica to the U.S. in the late 1970s. Dela, who worked in construction, always maintained a garden bursting with vegetables. “My father instilled hard work in me from a very young age,” Stewart said. “He cherished that garden and took great care of it.”

In August 2024, Stewart and his wife, Kiley, found their perfect patch of land in Temecula, which they named “Paraiso De La Luz,” or “Paradise of Light.” The property, surrounded by other farms growing citrus and avocados, offers Stewart a fresh start. “It felt so surreal,” Stewart recalled.

Stewart has planted rows of citrus, avocado trees, and other exotic fruits, spending his time mulching, clearing weeds, and grading hillsides. He enjoys the physical work, often utilizing a Mecalac 6MCR excavator. “The more you use it, the better you get at it,” he said.

His dedication on the farm mirrors his efforts on the basketball court as he averages 9.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game for the Detroit Pistons. “Nobody worked like us during this offseason,” Stewart stated. “We’re young, we’re spirited, and we’re just hungry.”

During the NBA season, project manager Robert Banuelos oversees daily operations at the farm. In the offseason, however, Stewart finds fulfillment in hands-on work. “I’m constantly doing things when I’m there,” he said.

Stewart has also sought mentorship from Sam Cobb, regarded as the only Black date farmer in the U.S. Cobb facilitates conversations about planting date palms, one of the most challenging crops. “What impressed me about Isaiah is that he wants to get into this stuff,” Cobb said. “He said, ‘Well, I’m young, I have time.’”

The number of Black farmers has drastically declined in America, but Stewart’s interest symbolizes hope. “I keep testing Isaiah to see if he’s sincere, and he keeps giving me the right answers,” Cobb noted.

For Stewart, success as a farmer means creating a legacy while embracing the Earth. “I’m surrounded by all of these green hills and farmland, and I’m just enjoying the moment so much,” he said. “I never thought I’d appreciate and see the Earth from another perspective.”