A chaotic scene interrupted play during Sunday night’s game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena.
While trying to establish position for a rebound in the lane on a free-throw attempt, the Lakers’ LeBron James hit the Pistons’ Isaiah Stewart in the face. Stewart — with a bloodied face around his right eye — then tried to confront James all over the court, but was held by many players and staffers before being escorted to the tunnel (where he then wildly ran to the locker room). The two players were ejected, with James being assessed a flagrant 2 foul.
And on Monday, the league handed out suspensions for the incident.
James has been suspended for one game by Adam Silver and company, while Stewart has been suspended for two games. It’s the first suspension of LeBron’s 19-year NBA career.
LeBron James has been suspended one game and Isaiah Stewart receives two-game suspension for roles in altercation during Lakers-Pistons.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 22, 2021
NBA:
Pistons C Isaiah Stewart has been suspended 2 games w/o pay for escalating an on-court altercation by repeatedly and aggressively pursuing Lakers F LeBron James.
James has been suspended 1 game without pay for recklessly hitting Stewart in the face.
NBA Statement: pic.twitter.com/q0DTeLDGxQ— Liz Mullen (@SBJLizMullen) November 22, 2021
Naturally, the NBA world has plenty to say on the suspensions. Here’s a sampling of the reaction on Twitter:
LeBron’s fine is 1/145th of his salary, a number collectively bargained by the league and NBPA per game for any suspension less than 20 games https://t.co/emSuCH3014
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) November 22, 2021
All because of running back after LeBron after he appeared to calm down. Probably found out how badly he was bleeding and went nuts. https://t.co/S55b68CiSQ
— Ian Casselberry (@iancass) November 22, 2021
LeBron has been suspended for tomorrow's game against the Knicks at MSG. Isaiah Stewart suspended for two games. Did the NBA get it right?
— Busted Coverage (@bustedcoverage) November 22, 2021
One game for LeBron, two games for Stewart. In line with my expectations.
— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) November 22, 2021
What an absolute joke. https://t.co/0gEOht24bO
— Detroit4lyfe (@Detroit4lyfe) November 22, 2021
HOORAY FOR THE NBA. LeBron, suspended for tomorrow night's game at MSG, the "mecca of basketball." Looks like the league office agreed with me: what LeBron did to Isaiah Stewart was intentional and dirty – so egregious LBJ is gone for the Lakers lone game vs Knicks in NY. BRAVO!
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) November 22, 2021
I’m a Lakers fan.
Isaiah lost his mind and was acting crazy and all of that. Did he deserve 2 games? Yes.
LeBron did what he did and we’ve all seen the video. Did he deserve one game? NO. HE DESERVED AT LEAST 2 or 3. https://t.co/aoa5f2HuOY
— Jonathan Tavernari (@For3JT) November 22, 2021
Two games for Beef Stew.
One game for LeBron.
Notre Dame mascot sues Westbrook. pic.twitter.com/8Cx0UGFf9C— J.E. Skeets (@jeskeets) November 22, 2021
the guy lebron james punched gets a longer suspension than lebron does. this league doesn't even pretend it cares about fairness. https://t.co/ypBeiMwrED
— mansur (@mansurshaheen) November 22, 2021
The league's statement sounds like they suspended LeBron at least in part b/c of how Stewart reacted, which….no? If they think the contact/act is enough for suspension, fine. But saying "the dude you hit almost started a monster brawl, so you get suspended" is…not it, man.
— Darius Soriano (@forumbluegold) November 22, 2021
Ridiculous. No way in hell Stewart should be suspended longer than LeBron https://t.co/Jfr0rVugUF
— Brian Witt (@Wittnessed) November 22, 2021
The man who got his face bloodied got MORE of a suspension?? 😂😂😂😂😂 https://t.co/CY6NerOGD4
— AJ King (@allday__ajking) November 22, 2021
Huge loss for Knicks beat writers that they won't get to carry on the 15-year tradition of asking LeBron how special it is to play at MSG.
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) November 22, 2021
[Photo Credit: Spectrum SportsNet]