Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart is set to appear in court on Feb. 23 at the Phoenix Municipal Court following charges of misdemeanor assault. This action comes after Stewart allegedly struck Phoenix Suns’ Drew Eubanks before their game, as NBA insiders Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported.
Following the incident, Stewart was arrested, issued a citation, and subsequently released, while Eubanks faced no such arrest. The altercation reportedly occurred near the Footprint Center’s tunnels as Eubanks was arriving, still dressed in civilian clothes.
“Basically, we were walking in, words were said, and then got face-to-face, and he just sucker-punched me,” Eubanks told reporters. “Security got in the way.”
In 2021, Stewart faced a two-game suspension following an on-court scuffle with LeBron James, during which he had to be restrained from escalating the situation further by team members, coaches, and officials.
Following the recent altercation with Eubanks, the Suns released a statement condemning the violence as unprovoked and unacceptable, affirming their support for Eubanks and their cooperation with law enforcement and the NBA.
“The attack on Drew Eubanks was unprovoked, and acts of violence such as this are unacceptable,” the Suns said in a statement after the game, a 116-100 victory for the Suns. “We unequivocally support Drew, and will continue to work with local law enforcement and the NBA.”
The NBA is reviewing the incident, and it’s unclear whether any disciplinary actions, such as suspensions or fines, will be decided upon before the legal proceedings are concluded.
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