For the first time in his 19 years as a professional, LeBron James is facing a possible suspension — that is, if the NBA is willing to sideline its biggest star ahead of a nationally televised game in New York on Tuesday.
James was ejected from the Los Angeles Lakers' win in Detroit on Sunday after bludgeoning Pistons center Isaiah Stewart's face with his fist and elbow while battling for rebounding position in the third quarter. The bloodied Stewart was also tossed after making several attempts to retaliate against James, who was protected by throngs of security guards and teammates as a potential melee was averted.
Fans and pundits did not hesitate to call for James's suspension, which would be his first since his senior year of high school in 2003, when he improperly accepted two replica jerseys valued at $845 in violation of Ohio state amateur rules.
'LeBron needs to be suspended minimum 5 games if we're being honest,' one fan tweeted.
'LeBron should get suspended for punching Beef Stew in the face,' another tweeted, using a nickname for Stewart. 'He clearly did it on purpose. Then he ran off like a baby. This is your Goat [Greatest of All Time] people.'
FS1 host Chris Broussard disagreed, arguing that Stewart should get a two-game ban, while James should only be fined: 'I can see why someone would say the elbow was intentional, but LeBron, in 19 years, has never been viewed as a dirty player.'
Piston's coach Dwane Casey shared a similar thought after Sunday's game, saying he does not think James is a 'dirty player.'
NBA league officials will now review footage of the incident and conduct follow-up interviews to determine whether fines or suspensions are in order. A league spokesman told DailyMail.com that a ruling on the matter will be completed before the Lakers and Pistons play their following games on Tuesday night in New York and Detroit, respectively. By suspending James, the NBA could significantly hurt television ratings for its coast-to-coast Lakers-Knicks broadcast on TNT.
Based on similar incidents, James likely wouldn't get more than a two- or three-game ban if he does get suspended.
In 2018, then-Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul was suspended two games for poking James's Lakers teammate, Rajon Rondo, in the eye and throwing punches in the ensuing fracas. Similarly, James's then-Cleveland Cavaliers teammate JR Smith was suspended for two games after punching Boston's Jae Crowder during a 2015 playoff game.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James (right) was ejected from Sunday's game in Detroit after delivering a brutal blow to the face of Pistons center Isaiah Stewart (left), who was left with a gruesome cut over his right eye
James was instantly ejected after his left elbow and fist struck Stewart during Pistons forward Jerami Grant's free throw attempt in the third quarter of Sunday night's game at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit
James's fist appeared to hit Stewart's face as the Lakers forward spun around while the two battled for rebounding position
Blood was streaming down Isaiah Stewart's face after he took a hard blow from LeBron James on Sunday
New York Daily News NBA reporter Kristian Winfield seems convinced that LeBron James will be getting suspended
FS1's Skip Bayless - a longtime LeBron James critic - argued on Monday's show that James should get suspended
The question of whether or not James's elbow was intentional will be an important factor in deciding his suspension
One fan argued that James should get a suspensions of at least 20 games for what he saw as a deliberate punch to Stewart
Naturally, many fans have decided that James's elbow to Stewart's face was, indeed, intentional
The question of whether or not James's elbow was intentional will be an important factor in deciding his suspension.
Many fans have, naturally, already made their conclusions.
'Unpopular opinion,' added another. 'LeBron should be suspended for 20 or more games. That MFer just punched Stewart in the face.
Another added: 'Lebron should get suspended for a couple of games there is no way he said that's an accident.'
But not everyone is convinced.
'This type of tangle happens multiple times every game,' tweeted former NBA guard Rex Chapman. '99% of the time you rip away cleanly from a tangle. This time LeBron didn't. He'll likely be suspended. But it's not an intentional shot to the face. Accident [in my opinion].'
What is clear is that James and Stewart had to be separated multiple times as the frantic game announcer ordered fans to remain in
