Lebron James and Isaiah Stewart Suspended By NBA For On-court Brawl

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers was suspended for one game, and Isaiah Stewart of the Detroit Pistons was suspended for two games, for their roles in a terrible altercation during Sunday's Lakers-Pistons game.

The NBA announced the suspensions on Monday, and both will have an impact on Tuesday's games. James will not suit up for the Lakers' game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Stewart will miss the Pistons' home game against Miami on Tuesday and their game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.

James will lose approximately $284,000 in salary, while Stewart will lose approximately $45,000. It is James' first suspension in his 19-year NBA career, during which he has won four NBA championships with three different teams.

The Lakers and Pistons meet again on Sunday in Los Angeles, and both James and Stewart are expected to play.

Stewart was disciplined for "escalating an on-court altercation by repeatedly and aggressively pursuing... James in an unsportsmanlike manner," according to the NBA, while James was suspended "for recklessly hitting Stewart in the face and initiating an on-court altercation," according to the NBA.

The incident occurred in the third quarter, beginning with James and Stewart vying for position during a free throw. Their arms appeared to become entwined, and James swung his elbow, making contact with Stewart, who soon had blood streaming from above his eye. After realizing he'd made contact with Stewart and drawn blood, James appeared to try to defuse the situation.

It didn't take long for the majority of both teams' players, as well as the referees, coaches, and security personnel, to join the fray and try to keep James and Stewart apart. Within 25 seconds of James's contact, there were at least 25 people on the floor. Phenizee Ransom, the referee, became attached to James.

For a brief moment, cooler heads appeared to prevail. Stewart was led away from the point of contact by teammates and coaches, but he appeared to become more enraged along the way. He then attempted a number of times to double back and run toward James. A number of people again blocked his path, ensuring that the incident did not deteriorate further.

Dwane Casey, the Pistons' coach, said Stewart needed eight stitches to close the wound, but he did not believe Stewart's reaction to the play warranted a suspension.

"His eye was completely cracked open. "He was irritated for a reason," Casey explained.

Stewart eventually left the floor, appearing to sprint again, and there was concern that he would try to return to the floor via another entry tunnel. Pistons guard Cory Joseph even went into the tunnel just in case — and with the approval of referee Scott Foster, the game's crew chief.

"After Isaiah Stewart left the court, Cory expected him to come around the back of (the) house and enter the Laker bench from the opposite side," Foster told a pool reporter following the game. "So he was going to catch him. "I told Cory that would be fine."

Stewart received two technical fouls, James received a Flagrant Foul Penalty 2, and both players were ejected.

The league has previously warned and punished James several times, including fines for flopping, skipping news conferences, and kicking a water bottle. However, this is his first suspension, and it means he will miss the Lakers' only game this season at Madison Square Garden, one of his favorite venues.

This is bad news for Lakers fans however, James will be back on-court once his suspension is over.

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