A moment that lasted only a few seconds created a storyline that followed Duncan Robinson for weeks. When the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets erupted into a full-blown brawl in early February, Robinson’s on-court reaction went viral for all the wrong reasons. And now, the veteran sharpshooter is finally addressing it head-on.
Duncan Robinson Admits Viral Brawl Reaction ‘Looked Bad,’ Vows To Handle it Differently Next Time
Speaking on The Old Man and the Three podcast, Robinson didn’t shy away from the uncomfortable truth the footage revealed. He acknowledged that the optics were damaging but was quick to separate the public narrative from what his teammates actually know about him.
“It looked and I could see how there could be a narrative outwardly of like, oh, I like left my guy hanging or I didn’t care about Stew or whatever. And that was actually the only aspect of it that I wanted to make sure Stew and I were cool, not like publicly. I do think Stew and my teammates know that I ride for them. Obviously, it’s going to be a little different than how Stew rides for his teammates. I’m also going to be authentically me.”
But Robinson wasn’t looking to hide behind that distinction either. He owned what the moment looked like on camera and made clear he’d handle it differently if given another chance.
“And in that moment, I got captured. It looked bad, it did to be honest. Like it didn’t look like I was down for the cause. I learned my lesson. Next time I’m going to grab someone, at least make it, you know, kind of get in the middle.”
Duncan Robinson on the Charlotte vs. Detroit incident:
“It looked and I could see how there could be a narrative outwardly of like, oh, I like left my guy hanging or I didn’t care about Stew or whatever. Like, and that was actually the only aspect of it that like I wanted to… pic.twitter.com/tJgf0bxLh0
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) March 12, 2026
The brawl itself broke out during a Pistons-Hornets game when Jalen Duren shoved Moussa Diabate in the face following a hard foul.
Things quickly escalated, with Miles Bridges charging at Duren and throwing a punch before Isaiah Stewart left the Detroit bench entirely to join the melee. Four players were ultimately ejected: Duren, Diabate, Bridges, and Stewart. Hornets head coach Charles Lee was also ejected later in the fourth quarter after he had to be restrained while arguing a separate foul call.
While his teammates were in the thick of the altercation, Robinson was seen walking away, a move that drew sharp criticism from NBA analysts.
Former player Lou Williams was pointed in his assessment, saying Robinson had to at least go over and grab a teammate rather than turning his back. Kenyon Martin echoed the sentiment on Gil’s Arena, making clear that while nobody expected Robinson to throw punches, some form of engagement was expected.
The NBA handed out significant suspensions in the aftermath. Stewart received 7 games for leaving the bench and his history of infractions, while Bridges was suspended for 4 games, Diabate for 4, and Duren for 2.
For Charlotte, the timing was brutal. The Hornets were battling for the final play-in spot in the East at 25-29, and losing Bridges, who was averaging 18.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, alongside Diabate, the team’s leading rebounder at 8.6 boards per game, was a significant blow.
For Robinson, the episode is now a closed chapter, one he clearly wanted to address privately before anything else. His concern wasn’t the public narrative, but making sure Stewart knew where he stood.
Given that Robinson has started every game he’s been healthy for in Detroit this season and has quietly become one of the more versatile wings on the roster, his standing in the locker room appears intact. Still, he knows what the tape showed, and he’s not running from it.
