For the first time in his 19 year NBA career, LeBron James has been suspended. By now you’ve likely seen the footage of the on court melee between the Lakers and Pistons. For those who have not, see below:
In the aftermath, the league announced that LeBron would be suspended 1 game, while Isaiah Stewart will receive a 2 game suspension for their roles in the fracas. While Stewart will miss more games than James, in terms of how this affects their bank accounts, James will be forfeiting roughly $284,000 in salary to Stewart’s $45,000.
Up to that point of the game, Detroit had largely outplayed Los Angeles and had built a sizable lead. However following the incident, the Lakers outscored the Pistons 37-17 in the 4th quarter to escape with a 121-116 win.
The Pistons and Lakers are scheduled to meet again on Sunday. Both players will have served their suspensions and be eligible to play, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the rematch.