LeBron James and Isiah Stewart almost turned an NBA game into a WWE match.
During last night’s game (November 21), between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Detroit Pistons, LeBron and Isaiah got into a brawl over a rebound. ESPN reports the “incident happened with 9:18 remaining in the third quarter and the Lakers trailing 79-67.”
While LeBron was “jostling for rebounding position,” he socked Isaiah in the eye, ESPN reports. As a result, Isaiah’s eye started to bleed and blood was gushing from his face. Isaiah attempted to swing back, but other people on the court stopped the situation from escalating. ESPN also notes, “initially, Isaiah was whistled for a loose ball foul on the play. After a review, LeBron was “assessed a flagrant foul two and ejected, Stewart was assessed two technical fouls and ejected, and Lakers guard Russell Westbrook was called for a technical foul.”
Take a look at some angles:
LeBron has been ejected after this flagrant 2 foul pic.twitter.com/CLbr3h6Zrz
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 22, 2021
https://twitter.com/vortec4253/status/1462624710097788930?s=20
Maximum pucker factor for Lebron here.
Isiah Stewart looked like he was about to murder him with his bare hands after the bron elbowed him in the eye.
Watch the whole clip. Stewart was *motivated*.
— David Pinsen (@dpinsen) November 22, 2021
LeBron or Isaiah hasn’t publicly spoken out the matter as of yet. However, Pistons coach Dwane Casey spoke out and said he doesn’t think LeBron is a “dirty player.” He said, “It was a tough play with Isaiah. His eye got cracked all the way open, and he was upset for a reason. I don’t think James is a dirty player, but again, it got them going.”
Lakers star Anthony Davis on the other hand feels very different. He said LeBron is a “dirty player.” Anthony said, “Everyone in the league knows LeBron’s not a dirty guy. In fact, when he knew he hit him, as soon as he did it, he looked back at him like, ‘Oh, my bad. I didn’t try to do it.’ I’ve never, in 10 years, seen a player try to do [what Isaiah Stewart did], what he tried to do. It’s uncalled for. You got a cut above your eye, accidental. It wasn’t like it was on purpose.”
ESPN also points out the Los Angeles Lakers’ 121-116 win ultimately won over the Pistons, with the score being 121-116. They also point out LeBron “finished with 10 points in 21 minutes, extending his double-digit scoring streak to 1,048 games — the best in league history.”
Take a look at asocial media reactions:
Isiah Stewart going after Lebron James and pretty much the whole Lakers team! pic.twitter.com/Mqc8dwZJ6E
— James A. Paxson (@paxson_jimmie) November 22, 2021
Lebron, Melo, Ad, and Russ when they saw Isiah Stewart body the entire security staff en route to them. pic.twitter.com/AsJzrr1nxg
— Duhhky (@Duhhky) November 22, 2021
Isiah Stewart waiting for LeBron and Westbrook outside the Lakers bus pic.twitter.com/T5uFpkaTBc
— Roshan (@PickAndRo) November 22, 2021
https://twitter.com/IAmCalvinTV2/status/1462714563036475393?s=20
https://twitter.com/KneeCircles/status/1462596227426504705?s=20
The Jasmine Brand pointed out in 2017, LeBron was ejected from a game when he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers. LeBron got in an argument in the third quarter with the referee.