More than two years after Isaiah Stewart’s pregame altercation with Drew Eubanks in Phoenix, footage of the incident has resurfaced and given basketball fans a clearer look at the confrontation that led to Stewart’s three-game suspension.
The incident took place on February 14, 2024, before a game between the Detroit Pistons and Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center. According to the NBA, Stewart “punched and pushed” Eubanks during the altercation, which occurred before tipoff and required security to separate the two players.
Eubanks said at the time that he was entering the arena when an argument began. The two players eventually came chest-to-chest before Stewart threw a punch. Phoenix police later cited and released Stewart after the incident, while Eubanks was reported to have sustained only a minor injury and went on to play that night.
The newly circulated footage has renewed discussion around what actually happened in those few seconds.
Stewart can be seen throwing the punch at close range, but Eubanks appears to absorb the contact and immediately move back toward him rather than retreating. Security personnel quickly intervene before the confrontation can escalate further.
That visual has challenged some of the mythology surrounding Stewart’s reputation as one of the NBA’s more intimidating enforcers. Nicknamed “Beef Stew,” he has built a reputation around his physicality, toughness and willingness to stand his ground, particularly after several high-profile altercations during his career.
More than two years after Isaiah Stewart’s pregame altercation with Drew Eubanks in Phoenix, footage of the incident has resurfaced and given basketball fans a clearer look at the confrontation that led to Stewart’s three-game suspension. pic.twitter.com/UjMuVdthDg
— OpenCourt-Basketball (@OpenCourtFB) September 26, 2026
Still, reducing the clip to whether the punch “hurt” Eubanks misses the larger context. The league did not punish Stewart based on how much damage the punch caused. It suspended him for initiating a physical altercation, and the three-game penalty was announced eight days later.
A misdemeanor assault charge connected to the incident was later dismissed before Stewart’s scheduled arraignment.
The footage does, however, add a new layer to a confrontation that had previously been described mostly through witness accounts and league statements.
What was already known was that Stewart threw a punch, Eubanks remained available to play, and the NBA responded with a suspension. What the video now shows is just how quickly the situation unfolded, and how little Eubanks appeared to be physically affected before immediately moving back toward Stewart.
