LeBron James received a one-game suspension for his involvement in the Los Angeles Lakers-Detroit Pistons altercation on Sunday, one game less than Isaiah Stewart.
But even so, teammate and fellow All-Star Anthony Davis is having trouble understanding why James was suspended at all -- especially given the NBA's explanation.
"I was surprised. I mean, I didn’t think he would get suspended. I don’t think anyone thought he was going to be suspended, to be honest. It was an accident. I mean, he accidentally hit (Stewart) in the face," said Davis following Tuesday's 106-100 loss to the New York Knicks with James absent.
"I guess the report came out that his hit to the face caused an incident, which is weird because he can’t control how a guy’s gonna react. I mean guys get hit the face all the time, and we’re saying that caused the incident. I get hit in my face probably more than anyone, and if I go off and do all that, the other guy who hit me in the face is gonna get suspended as well? It was strange. But there’s nothing we can do about it."
.@AntDavis23 explains why he chose to play feeling sick, his reaction to @KingJames' suspension and more. pic.twitter.com/HJpCiVMYEk
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) November 24, 2021
James was suspended for "for recklessly hitting Stewart in the face and initiating an on-court altercation," the NBA said, while Stewart was suspended for "escalating an on-court altercation by repeatedly and aggressively pursuing James in an unsportsmanlike manner."
It was only the second time James had been ejected in his 19-season career, and only the first time he received a suspension.
After the game Sunday, before suspensions were handed out, Davis was already defending his co-star.
"Everyone in the league knows Bron's not a dirty guy, as soon as he hit Stewart he looked back and said 'oh my bad,'" he said after the 121-116 win.
The Lakers play the Pistons in a rematch Sunday at 9:30 p.m. ET on Sportsnet ONE. Both James and Stewart will be done serving their suspensions by then.
