THOUGHTS | THE CHARLOTTE VERSUS DETROIT BRAWL
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
I get why people are hyped about the Charlotte Hornets this season.
But I never really boarded that train.
I’ve seen this movie before. Young core, early-season momentum, a few statement wins, and suddenly we’re talking playoffs. That’s cute, but when the games actually start to matter, young teams usually get pushed around.
Experience still counts.
That said… this changes things.
The Hornets have fangs now.
And that matters.
I’m not saying this is another Malice in the Palace—it’s not. No fans were involved. Isaiah Stewart ran onto the court instead of into the stands.
I’m not downplaying the violence either. As entertaining as it was for TV, suspensions are suspensions, and missing bodies can absolutely derail momentum.
Still, for where Charlotte is right now, this is something they almost needed.
Miles Bridges can frame it as “protecting a teammate,” but the bigger message was simple: you can’t treat the Hornets like scrubs anymore. That’s the real shift. When Moussa Diabaté put his forehead on Jalen Duren’s, that was already crossing a line. But when Duren reacted the way he did, that's just wrong. Getting mushed like you’re a kid—or worse, a flying insect—is next-level disrespect. Not fighting back there would’ve been unforgivable.
Mashing a man's face, in any shape or form, is just wrong. Look, you can curse at your friends during pickup, trash-talk while gaming, even get a little physical after a few drinks, and still laugh it off.
But swatting someone in the face like that?
That’s an automatic escalation.
On the Detroit side, this was just as necessary. A few years ago, the Pistons were where Charlotte is now. Isaiah “Beef Stew” Stewart built a reputation for never backing down—even with LeBron in his face. Now they’re possible title contenders, with Jalen Duren headed to his first All-Star Game. For Duren, some dude named Diabaté can’t be allowed to punk him. And for Stewart, even if he’s coming off the bench, nobody messes with their All-Star.
Grant Williams getting into it with Paul Reed was disrespectful too—and it’s kind of wild that a Hornets assistant coach ended up getting ejected. But honestly? This felt like Detroit initially letting Charlotte do whatever because, in their eyes, the Hornets were beneath them. The moment Diabaté poked at Duren, that switch flipped. That was Detroit reminding everyone they’re not to be messed with.
When two rising forces collide, stuff like this is bound to happen. Some people want to label it Malice 2.0. I don’t see it that way. To me, it’s just the modern version of the Bad Boy Pistons testing a conference rival.
And here’s the bigger picture: animosity drives the league. The NBA being one big friend group is nice, but it kills the edge. That’s why the All-Star Game keeps losing juice—getting selected is the endgame, and after that, nobody plays like there’s anything at stake. Post–All-Star, what’s the worst feeling? A top team steamrolling a cellar dweller. Sure, upsets happen, but are you really rearranging your schedule for those games? Usually not.
Now?
You might.
Jaylen Brown actually nailed this on his stream: the Hornets are tough now, and the Pistons have zero intention of letting them through.
And yeah, that’s a problem—for my Boston Celtics too. Boston already has real tension with Miami and New York. Now you can add Detroit and Charlotte to that list.
The East is shaping up nicely. I’ve always been an East guy, and honestly? This finally feels right.
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