The Detroit Pistons are preparing to play without key players Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren after a recent fight during their game against the Charlotte Hornets. On Wednesday, the NBA announced that Stewart would be suspended for seven games while Duren received a two-game suspension, a decision that follows their involvement in Monday’s altercation at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon expressed concern as the team heads into the All-Star break, emphasizing the difficulty of losing two vital frontcourt players at once. The suspensions take effect immediately, impacting the Pistons’ roster as they face the Toronto Raptors that same evening.
Details of the Incident and League’s Disciplinary Actions
Isaiah Stewart’s penalty was the most severe, reflecting both the nature of his actions and his past history with disciplinary issues. Stewart came off the bench to join the fight, an act that commonly results in suspension, while fighting itself also carries automatic penalties. Jalen Duren, determined by the league to have initiated the confrontation, was suspended for two games. Meanwhile, Charlotte’s Moussa Diabate and Miles Bridges, who intensified the altercation, faced four-game suspensions each.
Stewart has faced multiple suspensions in previous seasons for similar incidents, including a 2021 altercation involving LeBron James and a recent fight in 2024 with Drew Eubanks. The NBA took these repeat offenses into consideration when deciding his seven-game ban.
Team Leadership Responds to Suspension and Its Impact
In discussions with local media, Trajan Langdon acknowledged the passion behind Stewart’s actions but underscored the professional responsibilities at stake.
“We know where his heart is. I don’t think anybody doubts why he did what he did,”
Langdon said.
“He saw two players coming at one of his teammates. One of his teammates that they’re very, very close to. Right or wrong, he felt like he needed to defend him at that point when it felt like his teammate got somewhat sucker punched by a guy.”
Langdon also addressed the consequences of Stewart’s decision.
“But the professional side of it is if you do that you’re going to miss games and you’re going to hurt the team. He also cares a ton about the team so this is going to hurt him in that way because he’s not going to be able to help his teammates here in a while.”
Coach J.B. Bickerstaff supported Stewart’s motivation to protect a teammate but confirmed the gravity of such decisions. According to Langdon, the team has spoken with Stewart about the need to avoid similar incidents:
“I think he’s a guy that everybody on our teams knows he has everybody’s back and they have his back on the floor. I think his reaction in the game was one of trying to come to the defense of one of his teammates. but he knows going forward that’s not something that can happen again because it can set the team back.”
Schedule and Return Timelines for Suspended Players
The suspensions will begin with the Pistons’ upcoming game against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Jalen Duren is expected to return to the lineup on February 21 in a matchup against the Chicago Bulls, while Isaiah Stewart will miss a longer stretch, set to come back on March 3 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Ongoing Investigation Surrounding Former Player Malik Beasley
Trajan Langdon also provided updates on Malik Beasley, the former Pistons guard whose potential return remains uncertain due to an ongoing NBA investigation. Beasley was once a key contributor to Detroit’s recent resurgence and was in line for a multi-year contract before a federal gambling probe paused negotiations.
Although Beasley is no longer a target in the federal investigation, Langdon confirmed the league’s inquiry continues.
“Malik is still under investigation by the league right now, so that’s the clarity,”
Langdon said.
“In terms of when that will end, I have no idea. They don’t really give any clarity on that.”
Beasley remains eager to rejoin the NBA and has expressed his desire to return to the Pistons, but with the league’s investigation still active, his comeback is not expected in the near future.
