Sunday’s change came with 9:18 remaining in the third inning and the Lakers tracking 78-66 in Detroit. As a free throw was being attempted, James swung his arms back while boxing to recover, touching Stewart.
The foul resulted in a lengthy halt to the game while Stewart, blood running down his face, had to be restrained by the coach and the Detroit players as he attempted to confront James multiple times. Stewart was also dropped from the game.
The Lakers will win 121-116.
Neither James nor Stewart spoke to the media after the game. CNN has reached out to the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Lakers for comment.
Lakers teammate Anthony Davis came to James’s defense after the game, saying James wasn’t a “dirty guy” and he wasn’t sure why Stewart reacted the way he did.
“I’ve never, in 10 years, seen a player try to do that as long as I’m playing, at least in basketball. It’s just not possible,” Davis said.
Lakers head coach Frank Vogel said he spoke to James in the locker room after the game.
“Yes, that’s really something that should be in the dressing room,” Vogel said. “I mean, I talked to him, yes, but I won’t reveal what his message was.”
“I told him, ‘Don’t let this define who you are. It doesn’t define what your game is’.” I feel sorry for him because he is such an opponent and he plays hard. He’s a great kid but he feels like he’s been shot in the forehead and on the street, that’s going to be a different story,” Casey said.
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