Duncan Robinson May Have Broken The Code Of Honor In Detroit

Duncan Robinson has been in the NBA for eight years, and by now, he is well aware of the rules, both written and unwritten. This week, Robinson appears to have committed a serious infraction that might not endear him to the rest of the Detroit Pistons locker room.

How bad is it? Apparently, fans have taken notice. On Wednesday, one of them called in on "The Rich Eisen Show" to vent his feelings on the Pistons guard.

"Here in Detroit, man, we're a little pissed at Duncan Robinson. You can't turn your back while everybody in the background is squabbling. You fight, we all fight. At least, pretend like it!"

This fan, of course, was referring to the physical altercation that took place in the second half of the Pistons-Hornets game on Monday. Midway through the third quarter, Jalen Duren and Moussa Diabate got into a shoving match; as players and officials moved to contain the situation, Isaiah Stewart and Miles Bridges confronted each other as well.

While all four of these players were in the center of the action, Robinson kept a low profile and drew little attention to himself. While this is a risk-free action that sounds perfectly reasonable, Robinson's "inactivity" appears to have ruffled some feathers in the Motor City.

But Eisen, who may have been thinking of ESPN's family-friendly culture that his show has to conform to, defended Robinson's behavior. "He was looking at this [situation] and saying, 'These knuckleheads. I'm out.'

Though Robinson's decision makes him look weak in some circles, he ultimately spared himself from hefty sanctions. His teammates Duren and Stewart, as well as their opponents Diabate and Bridges, were slapped with suspensions (with Stewart being sidelined for a total of seven games).

In a highly competitive Eastern Conference, missing a key player or two could prove to be costly for the Pistons, as other playoff contenders like the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks are gunning for the top spot in the East. Robinson may not have earned street cred by not joining the fray, but at the very least, he'll be able to join the Pistons on the court for the foreseeable future.