The NBA has announced that Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James will be suspended for one game for fighting Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart on Sunday.
The four-time MVP got tangled up with Stewart on a free throw and struck the second-year big man in the face, causing severe bleeding. Stewart went after James but the two were separated, both being ejected from the game.
MORE: LeBron James ejected for bloodying Isaiah Stewart in Lakers-Pistons scuffle
According to Pro Sports Transactions, this marks the first time in his 19-year career that 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 playing a role in a fight. 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?
All records are via Pro Sports Transactions.
| Player | Year | Games Suspended | Reason |
| LeBron James | 2021 | 1 | Striking Isaiah Stewart |
| Nikola Jokic | 2021 | 1 | Pushing Markieff Morris |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | 2020 | 1 | Headbutting Mo Wagner |
| 2015 | 1 | Shoving Mike Dunleavy Jr. | |
| James Harden | 2015 | 1 | Kicking LeBron James in groin |
| Kobe Bryant | 2007 | 1 | Striking Marko Jaric |
| 2002 | 2 | Fighting Reggie Miller | |
| Dirk Nowitzki | 2008 | 1 | Hitting Matt Harpring |
| 2008 | 1 | Hitting Andrei Kirilenko | |
| Steve Nash | 2008 | 1 | Escalating fight between Rockets-Suns |
| Kevin Garnett | 2015 | 1 | Headbutting Dwight Howard |
| 2008 | 1 | Striking Andrew Bogut | |
| 2007 | 1 | Punching Antonio McDyess | |
| Shaquille O'Neal | 2002 | 3 | Punching Brad Miller |
| 1999 | 1 | Fighting Charles Barkley | |
| 1997 | 1 | Hitting Greg Ostertag | |
| 1995 | 1 | Hitting Eric Montross | |
| Karl Malone | 1999 | 1 | Punching Anthony Johnson |
| Hakeem Olajuwon | 1998 | 1 | Fighting Antonio McDyess |
| Charles Barkley | 1999 | 1 | Fighting Shaquille O'Neal |
| 1996 | 1 | Fighting Charles Oakley | |
| 1990 | 1 | Fighting Bill Lambeer |
O'Neal has been suspended more times than any other NBA MVP for fighting, tallying four different suspensions and a total of six games missed due to altercations.
Barkley and Garnett have each been suspended three times apiece, while players like Malone and Bryant could have a higher total if you included instances where they were ejected and suspended for elbowing.
Nash remains the only NBA MVP who has been suspended for escalating a fight, although Stephen Curry received a fine for the same reason back in 2013.
James joins reigning MVP Nikola Jokic as the second award-winner to receive a suspension for fighting this season.