LeBron James Suspended One Game For Sunday’s Altercation, First Career Suspension

For the first time in his illustrious 19-year career, LeBron James has been suspended. 

On Monday, the NBA announced a one-game suspension for James and a two-game suspension for Isaiah Stewart of the Detroit Pistons for their roles in an on-court confrontation Sunday night. 

The NBA released the following statement on Monday: 

Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart has been suspended two games without pay for escalating an on-court altercation by repeatedly and aggressively pursuing Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James in an unsportsmanlike manner, and James has been suspended one game without pay for recklessly hitting Stewart in the face and initiating an on-court altercation, it was announced today by Byron Spreull, President, League Operations. 

…

Stewart will serve his suspension Tuesday, Nov. 23 when the Pistons host the Miami Heat at Little Caesars Arena and Wednesday, Nov. 24 when Detroit faces the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum. James will serve his suspension Tuesday, Nov. 23 when the Lakers visit the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

The following was released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/blyOFowWQ3

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) November 22, 2021

With 9:18 to go in the third quarter and James’ Lakers down 77-66, the Pistons were at the free throw line when James and Stewart were battling for position on the block. James, seemingly attempting to get Stewart off of him, swung his arm backward, connecting with Stewart’s face. Whether he meant to hit him in the face or not, Stewart was bloodied by the incident and became enraged. 

Stewart confronted James before being separated by teammates, but unlike in most NBA disagreements, attempted to get back at James on multiple occasions. 

LeBron James was ejected with a flagrant 2 foul on Isaiah Stewart.

(🎥 via @SportsCenter) pic.twitter.com/PJRiGCmAQw

— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) November 22, 2021

The on-court confrontation came almost exactly 17 years after “The Malice at the Palace,” when Indiana Pacers players went into the stands to fight with fans of the Pistons.

After the game, Lakers forward Anthony Davis defended his teammate, saying that James was not a dirty player. 

“Everyone in the league knows that Bron isn’t a dirty guy. As soon as he did it, he looked back and told him, ‘My bad. I didn’t try to do it,’” Davis said. “I don’t know what [Stewart] was trying to do. Nobody on our team, 1-15, was having it. We’re going to protect our brother.”

"Everyone in the league knows Bron isn't dirty…it wasn't on purpose. We weren't going to allow him to charge our brother like that. We just wanted to get the win for [Bron] and our team." Anthony Davis with @LakersReporter on what he saw on the play between Bron & Stewart. pic.twitter.com/PSSK9W2Ra7

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) November 22, 2021

On Monday, NBA analyst Shams Charania went on “The Pat McAfee Show” and explained that James attempted to get Stewart’s number after the game in order to apologize. 

“I’m told LeBron James did try to track down Isaiah Stewart’s number postgame to apologize to Stewart again and let him know that it was an inadvertent hit to his face,” Charania said. 

LeBron James tried to track down Isaiah Stewart's number after the game to apologize and let him know that the hit was inadvertent, per @ShamsCharania.

🎥 @patmcafeeshowpic.twitter.com/VznlOlz7Ud

— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) November 22, 2021

The ejection was only the second of James’ career, with the first being in November 2017 as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers after berating an official for a foul call. 

The Lakers have struggled to start off the 2021-2022 season, sitting at 9-9 and going 3-5 in the eight games James sat out as he recovered from an abdominal strain. 

Following a first-round playoff exit to the Phoenix Suns, the Lakers made wholesale changes to their roster, adding point guard Russell Westbrook, center Dwight Howard, and forward Carmelo Anthony, among other additions. The Lakers are currently ranked 23rd in the NBA in offensive rating, and 20th in defensive rating. 

The Lakers and Pistons play again Sunday, November 28th in Los Angeles, with both James and Stewart eligible to play.

Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to [email protected].