Pistons’ Isaiah Stewart Set for Feb. 23 Court Date After Punching Suns’ Drew Eubanks

Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVFebruary 19, 2024

Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images

Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart will have a Feb. 23 court date at the Phoenix Municipal Court after being charged with misdemeanor assault for allegedly punching Phoenix Suns center Drew Eubanks ahead of Wednesday’s matchup between the teams, per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

Stewart was arrested and given a citation before being released from custody. Eubanks was not arrested.

The alleged incident took place near the tunnels of the Footprint Center, as Eubanks was entering the arena. He was still wearing street clothes at the time.

“Basically we were walking in, words were said, and then got face-to-face and he just sucker-punched me,” he told reporters. “Security got in the way.”

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin”It’s supposed to be a brotherhood.”

Kevin Durant on Drew Eubanks/Isaiah Stewart deal.

On Devin Booker ejection: “He was talking to me. I guess he said something that ticked the ref off, but they were on edge because of the situation. They didn’t want things to escalate.” #Suns pic.twitter.com/EwfJvCRxm8

“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.”

Detroit Pistons head coach Monty Williams pushed back on the “unprovoked” aspect of that statement, however.

“The thing is to get all of the information. The NBA will do an investigation,” he told reporters. “For me to come here and make a statement would be a bit irresponsible. I know the Suns said it was unprovoked; I think that is irresponsible for sure. You really don’t know. That did not need to happen. There is a time for the information to be gathered, and then you can make a statement.”

Charania and James L. Edwards III of The Athletic reported that Stewart and Eubanks “were extra aggressive with each other and verbally sparring throughout” a Nov. 5 matchup between the teams.

Stewart, 22, was suspended for two games back in 2021 after getting into an altercation with LeBron James. He had to repeatedly be held back by teammates, coaches and officials as he attempted to further escalate that situation.

It remains to be seen what type of punishment the NBA—which is officially reviewing the matter itself—will levy, or if any suspension or fine will be determined before the legal process runs its course.