Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas has blasted Detroit forward Isaiah Stewart for his reaction to LeBron James‘ high shot after tensions boiled over during yesterday’s match between the Lakers and Pistons.
Stewart, 20, rocked the NBA world yesterday by attempting to fight James and the Lakers.
James was suspended for one game and will forfeit about $393,000 in salary, while Stewart will lose about $63,000 and miss two games.
During a third-quarter free throw attempt, James was jostling for position with Stewart when it appeared the Lakers superstar struck his opponent high with his left arm.
Stewart reacted immediately and got into the face of James before things turned ugly, with coaching staff and players intervening to hold back the Detroit forward on multiple occasions as he continuously charged at the Lakers playing group.
Arenas, a three-time NBA All-Star, took to Instagram to voice his displeasure with Stewart.
He said he hopes Stewart is traded out of Detroit before criticising him for breaking the league “memo” of going at James – a four-time MVP and four-time NBA champion.
“Isaiah Stewart, hey brother, Imma just be real with you here,” Arenas wrote on Instagram. “Pack all s–t, pack your winter jackets and boots because your a– is about to be traded to (Budapest) somewhere.
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“I don’t know what type of bumbaclot blood got in your eye, but you can’t charge at the King like that on TV, you will be drug tested expeditiously just to make sure that rage ain’t drug-related.
“You probably haven’t read the memo on fight attempts in the NBA: 1. Don’t square up with LeBron James and Kevin Durant EVER.
“Two: Them two light skin boys Steph Curry and Klay Thompson on Golden State – don’t let your chest get puffy towards them or your a– is done.
“Three: Only two teams are allowed to fistfight without any real penalties is wherever Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul are at.
“Four: Wait until your teammates get around you and then act tough (for the crowd), sell it like WWE… Ummm that’s it, good luck moving forward my man.”
Arenas made a number of NBA references by suggesting that other note-worthy basketball discussion points, including Michael Jordan’s broken relationship with Scottie Pippen as well as the rumoured Kobe Bryant documentary, are the only topics that can keep the negative attention away.
In the lengthy Instagram post, Arenas also mentioned Boston centre Enes Kanter, a Turkish NBA player who is facing a number of political punishments due to his criticism of his homeland’s government.
“PS. This was worst than the gun in the locker room situation. Some can say this was attempted murder,” Arenas added.
“Only thing that can save you right now is Michael Jordan dropping episode 11 of The Last Dance and he edits all Scottie Pippen scenes out, or (Kobe Bryant’s widow) Vanessa Bryant dropping The Mamba last season.
“If you think I’m bull——g ask, Enes Kanter. He got too close to the king (LeBron James) back in 2016-17 and the Turkish president been trying to catch his a– ever since.”
Following the scuffle, respected NBA insider Shams Charania has claimed that James has attempted to reach out to Stewart and apologise.
“I’m told LeBron James did try to track down Isaiah Stewart’s number postgame to apologise to Stewart again and let him know it was an inadvertent hit,” Charania said on the Pat McAfee Show.
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