You don’t hear about this every day, especially in the NBA. Normally, the idea of professional athletes getting into a confrontation in or around the arena stays behind closed doors and is handled by the league. But in this case, local authorities stepped in.
On Wednesday, before their matchup with the Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons power forward Isaiah Stewart allegedly punched Suns Power forward Drew Eubanks in the parking lot outside the Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ., according to The Athletic.
Stewart was then arrested for assault and given a citation before being released by police.
More from the Phoenix Police Department on what occurred Wednesday night:
Around 4:45 p.m. Phoenix police officers were working in a security capacity during a Suns home game at Footprint Arena when they were called to a fight between two players inside the arena’s parking lot. When the officers arrived, they were directed by security to the players involved. The players were identified as 27-year-old Drew Eubanks and 22-year-old Isaiah Stewart.
Officers spoke to both players involved and a number of people who witnessed the incident. They learned there was an argument between both players as they arrived at the arena. Witnesses said the argument escalated when they saw Stewart punch Eubanks, causing a minor injury. Both men were separated by security which ended the fight.
Maybe the craziest part about all of this is that Stewart was not even set to play in the Pistons matchup against the Suns, as he has had to sit out since Jan. 28 due to an ankle injury he suffered.
While it’s unclear what exactly led to the altercation between the two players, a situation like this is not exactly surprising if you know anything about Stewart’s history. Must we forget the heated altercation he got into with LeBron James? Even though James started it, Stewart tried his damnedest to finish it.
Stewart wasn’t even alive during the days of the Bad Boy Pistons, but the way he’s reacted in some of these altercations would make you think that he was.