Detroit Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart has been suspended three games for his altercation with Phoenix Suns center Drew Eubanks prior to their game in Phoenix on February 14, the NBA announced on Thursday.
Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart has been suspended for three games for altercation with Drew Eubanks, per @ShamsCharania. pic.twitter.com/baX9GyhASp
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 22, 2024
Stewart, who pushed and punched Eubanks in the face during the altercation, was arrested and issued a citation by Phoenix Police, but he never went to jail. While he was scheduled to appear in court on February 23 for the misdemeanor assault charge, the Phoenix Municipal Court has since dismissed these charges at the wish of the prosecutor's office, according to ESPN's Baxter Holmes.
The former first-round pick will begin serving his suspension for the Pistons with the next NBA regular-season game that he is eligible and physically able to play in, which is expected to be on Thursday night against the Indiana Pacers.
At this time, it is unclear what caused last week's incident between the two big men to occur. Camera footage of what actually happened has not been released to the public. Upon the conclusion of their review, including video of the altercation, the NBA has now decided to punish Stewart for his actions.
“Words were said,” Eubanks commented when asked about his scuffle with Stewart. “I got sucker punched, and security intervened.”
Regarding Stewart punching him in the mouth, Eubanks said after the game on Feb. 14 that he was fine and that it was a “soft punch.”
Players and coaches from both teams discussed the matter with reporters after news of this altercation broke last Wednesday. The Suns even went so far as to issue their own statement from an organizational standpoint on the matter, stating that the attack on Eubanks was “unprovoked,” a word that Pistons head coach Monty Williams seemed to take exception to in his postgame remarks.
“I think that is irresponsible, for sure, for them to do that when you really don’t know, because two sides are giving their story,” Williams stated. “I think until you find out everything, you can’t make those statements.”
This marks the second time in Stewart's four-year career with the Pistons that he has been suspended. He is infamously known for his incident with LeBron James during the 2021-22 season. After being elbowed in the face by James on a rebound attempt, a blow that left him bleeding above his right eye, Stewart tried to confront the superstar. He was held back by numerous security guards and team personnel before breaking free and chasing after LeBron. Stewart was suspended for two games for what occurred in 2021.
Just last offseason, Stewart signed a four-year, $60 million contract extension with the Pistons. In a total of 35 games this season, the 22-year-old has averaged 11.0 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while shooting 47.0 percent from the floor and 37.4 percent from three-point range.
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