Detroit Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart is facing a suspension after he punched the Phoenix Suns’ Drew Eubanks in a confrontation that occurred hours before the teams’ game Wednesday night.
Stewart, 22, was arrested for assault, issued a citation and released, according to Phoenix Police Department news release. The report has the incident occurring in the parking tunnel of the arena.
The Athletic was the first to report the news of the confrontation between Stewart and Eubanks.
Stewart did not play Wednesday night as he is dealing with an ankle injury that has kept him out of the lineup since Jan. 28.
Eubanks was walking to the Suns’ locker room at Phoenix’s Footprint Center when he was stopped by Stewart, the Suns player told Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network.
“Just walking in and words were said and got sucker punched and security stepped in and that was it,” Eubanks told Rankin.
The Suns’ backup big man, who entered Wednesday averaging 5.6 points and 4.2 rebounds, told Rankin he was OK and said Stewart’s punch was ‘soft.’ Eubanks was in the lineup Wednesday night against Detroit. He scored six points and pulled down eight rebounds in 17 minutes in the Suns’ 116-100 win. Stewart left the Footprint Center after the incident, The Athletic reported.
‘The attack on Drew Eubanks was unprovoked, and acts of violence such as this are unacceptable,’ the Suns said in a statement. ‘We unequivocally support Drew, and will continue to work with local law enforcement and the NBA.’
In their own statement, the Pistons said they were ‘aware of the incident between Isaiah Stewart and Drew Eubanks prior to this evening’s game.
‘We are in the process of gathering information about what happened and what provoked it, and responding to the NBA and local authorities.’
Pistons coach Monty Williams took issue with the Suns using the word ‘unprovoked’ in their statement about the incident.
‘I think that is irresponsible for them to do that when you really don’t know because two sides are giving their story,’ Williams said. ‘I think until you find out everything, you can’t make those statements. I heard about that and I just thought that did not need to happen. I think there is a time for information to be gathered and then you can make a statement.
‘For me, it’s let’s get all the information. The league will do its due diligence and it’ll come up with something. It’s just one of those situations that we just have to wait and see.”
The league is investigating the incident.
Stewart has been suspended once before, following a November 2021 incident in which he went after Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James after James busted up Stewart’s face while battling for a ball. Stewart was suspended two games for that incident.