Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart was arrested on Wednesday night in Arizona before Detroit’s matchup with the Phoenix Suns. According to multiple reports, the former Washington Huskies star confronted Suns big man Drew Eubanks in the parking tunnel of Talking Stick Arena hours before the game.
Stewart was arrested for assault, issued a citation, and released later that night according to the Phoenix Police Department. According to Eubanks, he was walking to the Suns locker room when he was confronted by Stewart.
“Just walking in and words were said and got sucker punched and security stepped in and that was it,” Eubanks told Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY network.
“We are in the process of gathering information about what happened and what provoked it, and responding to the NBA and local authorities,” the Pistons said in a statement.
In their own statement, the Suns called Stewart’s actions “unprovoked” and Pistons head coach Monty Williams took issue with it after the game.
“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.”
If Stewart were to be suspended for the incident, it wouldn’t be his first. In November 2021, he went viral after charging at Los Angeles Lakers superstar Lebron James, causing a one-game suspension for both.
The Lakers and Pistons had to be separated multiple times after this play between LeBron and Isaiah Stewart. pic.twitter.com/im0o7fXeoI
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 22, 2021