NBA Suspensions From Pistons-Hornets Brawl Raise Bigger Questions

The NBA has suspended players from both the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets for their roles in the brawl that broke out Monday night.

Isaiah Stewart received the harshest punishment: a seven-game suspension. He came off the bench to confront Miles Bridges and already had prior incidents working against him. Based on precedent, the penalty felt somewhat light for Stewart.

His Pistons teammate, Jalen Duren, received a two-game suspension for his role in the altercation. Though he initiated the scuffle, the league handed him what felt like a relatively minor punishment.

Detroit’s next two games are difficult road matchups against Eastern Conference contenders — the Raptors and the Knicks — following the All-Star break. J.B. Bickerstaff has guided the Pistons to a commanding position atop the East, but with the seventh-hardest remaining schedule and additional matchups against the Cavaliers and Thunder, the race could tighten quickly.

On the Hornets’ side, Moussa Diabate and Miles Bridges were each suspended four games. I was surprised Diabate received the same suspension as Bridges. In my view, Diabate was the primary instigator and escalated the situation more than anyone.

Charlotte’s next four games are against the Hawks, Rockets, Cavaliers and Wizards. Two of those contests feel very winnable, making the suspensions even more frustrating. The Hornets have been one of the hottest teams in the league, winning nine of their last 10. They had clawed back into the play-in picture, and it would be unfortunate if this derailed their momentum.

Fortunately for Charlotte, the Bulls — who traded away much of their core — and a Giannis-less Bucks team are the primary challengers in the standings.

The NBA has always taken a hard line when it comes to fighting, and I’ve never fully understood it. Fights happen in every sport. Elite athletes compete in high-pressure environments where emotions run hot. Those conditions naturally create confrontations.

I’m not suggesting the league should resemble hockey, but perhaps there’s room for a slightly more measured approach. Allowing players to settle disputes occasionally might curb some of the behaviors fans dislike most. Trash talk is already permitted without much restriction. Shouldn’t there be consequences when it crosses a line?

If players knew retaliation was a real possibility, maybe we’d see less flopping and fewer theatrics, as issues would be handled more directly.

That said, Adam Silver’s priority is maximizing the league’s marketability. If that’s the goal, he probably shouldn’t take advice from someone advocating for more fighting.