Isaiah Stewart and Drew Eubanks.Photo:Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty, Christian Petersen/Getty
Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty, Christian Petersen/Getty
Detroit Pistonscenter Isaiah Stewart was arrested for punchingPhoenix Sunscenter Drew Eubanks in the parking lot of the Footprint Arena in downtown Phoenix hours before the teams played each other on Wednesday night.
The Phoenix Police Department said they issued Stewart, 22, a citation and soon released the NBA player, who reporters saw leaving the stadium in street clothes soon afterwards. Stewart was already scheduled to sit out of Wednesday night’s game with a foot injury.
“There’s no place for anything like that in our game,” Suns head coach Frank Vogel said at a press conference after the game, which Phoenix won 116-100.
Eubanks played 18 minutes in the win over Detroit, scoring six points and grabbing six rebounds.
Isaiah Stewart.Mike Mulholland/Getty
Mike Mulholland/Getty
The Phoenix Suns organization released a statement calling the punch “unacceptable.”
“The attack on Drew Eubanks was unprovoked, and acts of violence such as this are unacceptable,” the Suns’ statement said. “We unequivocally support Drew, and will continue to work with local law enforcement and the NBA.”
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The NBA is expected to investigate the incident. However, the fact that the Phoenix Suns organization weighed in on the fight before an investigation took place irked Pistons head coach Monty Williams, who used to coach the Suns before he was fired last season.
Drew Eubanks.Lachlan Cunningham/Getty
Lachlan Cunningham/Getty
“The thing is to get all of the information. The NBA will do an investigation,” Williams said, according toESPN. “For me to come here and make a statement would be a bit irresponsible. I know the Suns said it was ‘unprovoked.’ I think that is irresponsible for sure. You really don’t know.”
Suns starKevin Durantalso weighed in on the incident, telling reporters “s— happens.”
“It’s unfortunate what happened before the game,” Durant said. “It’s supposed to be a brotherhood, but also understand that dudes get into stuff and stuff may happen. We try to avoid that in this league, but s— happens and hopefully we can move on from it. We all support Drew and have Drew’s back. He’ll move on and move past it.”
source: people.com
