DETROIT — LeBron James has been suspended one game and Detroit's Isaiah Stewart has been suspended two games after an altercation between the two players in Sunday's Lakers-Pistons game in Detroit.
It's the first time in James' NBA career that he has been suspended.
While the two were next to each other contesting for a rebound on a free throw, Stewart was holding onto James, who then swung his fist down, striking Stewart in the face.
Things went off the rails after Stewart started bleeding profusely from his face. It appeared James was trying to say he didn't mean to strike Stewart in the face. But, Stewart was not having it, as he was held back trying to get to James.
Slow motion replay clearly showed an uncharacteristic swing from James, who was ejected from the game. It was just the second time he's been ejected from a game in his NBA career.
After being held back, Stewart continued to break free from coaches and teammates trying to subdue him as he kept trying to go after James.
It was a bizarre scene. And it ironically came just days after the "Malice in the Palace" anniversary.
James was suspended for "recklessly hitting Stewart in the face and initiating an on-court altercation," according to the NBA.
The NBA said Stewart received two games for "escalating an on-court altercation by repeatedly and aggressively pursuing (James) in an unsportsmanlike manner."
Pistons head coach Dwane Casey said Monday morning that he believed Stewart should not be facing any suspension, saying "the man got eight stitches."
“Everyone in the league knows LeBron is not a dirty guy," Lakers star forward Anthony Davis said after the game.
James has not commented on the incident, or posted on social media since the incident, as of writing.
The Pistons and Lakers play each other again in just six days on Sunday, Nov. 28.
Stewart, 20, was drafted by the Pistons out of the University of Washington with the 16th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
