The NBA has long been a league that favors superstars, but Monday was a chance for the league to take a stand against an egregious and dangerous foul from LeBron James — you know, just the biggest star in the game.
Well, the NBA wanted no part of that opportunity to make a serious disciplinary statement.
Following Sunday’s altercation that saw a bloodied Isaiah Stewart chase after LeBron, the league announced that it would be suspending Stewart for two games. LeBron, who essentially punched Stewart while battling for rebounding position, would only get one game. It’s the first suspension of his career.
The NBA heard all those calls for LeBron to face a multiple-game suspension and decided to suspend the player he fouled multiple games instead.
NBA: Stewart's suspension was for "escalating an on-court altercation by repeatedly and aggressively pursuing (James) in an unsportsmanlike manner."
James serves suspension Tuesday vs. Knicks for "recklessly hitting Stewart in the face and initiating an on-court altercation." https://t.co/4H08dXOZIY
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 22, 2021
The league tried to justify the decision by describing Stewart’s aggressive reaction as a worse offense than the contact that started it all. It was blatant superstar treatment, and NBA fans weren’t happy about it.