Lakers’ LeBron James Suspended: Barkley, Shaq and Entire NBA MVPs History Suspended for Fighting
The NBA has announced that Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James will be suspended for one game for playing Isaiah Stewart at the Detroit Pistons center on Sunday.
The four-time MVP entangled Stewart on a free throw and hit the second-year big man in the face, causing massive bleeding. Stewart chases James but the two are separated, both being kicked out of the game.
THAN: LeBron James kicked out of home for spilling Isaiah Stewart’s blood during Lakers-Pistons brawl
According to Pro Sports Deals, which marks the first time in his 19-year career James has been suspended by the NBA.
He joins a fairly long list of 11 other NBA MVPs who have been suspended for fighting or brawling. Below you can find each scenario along with the year, the number of games suspended, and the reason for the suspension.
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How many NBA MVPs have been suspended for fighting?
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| Player | Year | The game is paused | Reason |
| LeBron James | Year 2021 | first | Impress Isaiah Stewart |
| Nikola Jokic | Year 2021 | first | Push Markieff Morris |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Year 2020 | first | Headbutt Mo Wagner |
| 2015 | first | Push Mike Dunleavy Jr. | |
| James Harden | 2015 | first | Kicking LeBron James in the groin |
| Kobe Bryant | 2007 | first | Outstanding Marko Jaric |
| 2002 | 2 | Fighting Reggie Miller | |
| Dirk Nowitzki | 2008 | first | Hit Matt Harpring |
| 2008 | first | Beat Andrei Kirilenko | |
| Steve Nash | 2008 | first | Rockets-Suns . Escalation |
| Kevin Garnett | 2015 | first | Headbutt Dwight Howard |
| 2008 | first | Impress Andrew Bogut | |
| 2007 | first | Fist Antonio McDyess | |
| Shaquille O’Neal | 2002 | 3 | Punch Brad Miller |
| 1999 | first | Fighting Charles Barkley | |
| 1997 | first | Hit Greg Ostertag | |
| 1995 | first | Hit Eric Montross | |
| Karl Malone | 1999 | first | Punch Anthony Johnson |
| Hakeem Olajuwon | 1998 | first | Against Antonio McDyess |
| Charles Barkley | 1999 | first | Fighting Shaquille O’Neal |
| 1996 | first | Fighting Charles Oakley | |
| 1990 | first | Fight with Bill Lambeer |
O’Neal has been suspended more times than any other NBA MVP for fights, tally four different suspensions, and a total of six games missed as a result of the changeover.
Barkley and Garnett have each been suspended three times, while players like Malone and Bryant may have had higher totals if you factor in the cases where they were sent off and suspended for elbowing. .
Nash remains the only NBA MVP to be suspended for a fight, although Stephen Curry received a similar fine in 2013.
James joins reigning MVP Nikola Jokic as the second award winner to receive a suspension for fighting this season.
