DeMarcus Cousins, the four-time NBA All-Star who was the fifth overall pick out of Kentucky in 2010, has been suspended for the remainder of his team’s season and fined $10,000 after being ejected from a game in Puerto Rico on Monday night following a nasty altercation with courtside fan.
The league announced the penalties on Tuesday. They include a seven-game suspension for the remainder of his team’s season. The financial penalties include $4,250 without appeal and $5,750 with the right of appealing, Ricardo Dalmau, president of the Puerto Rican Professional Basketball League, told NJ Advance Media by text.
Cousins, playing for the Guaynabo Mets in Puerto Rico’s Baloncesto Superior Nacional league, got into an altercation with the fan after the former NBA star gestured toward his crotch as the fan gave him the double-middle finger. Cousins then slapped the fan before teammates stepped in between them and restrained Cousins.
Cousins, 34, was then hit with a shower of drinks and food as he was was escorted off the court. He appeared to go nuts and had to be restrained again by security.
Cousins last played in the NBA during the 2021-22 season, playing in 48 combined games for the Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets.
The former John Calipari protege at Kentucky averaged 19.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per game over his 11 seasons in the league.
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.
Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter and Basketball Insider for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria and check out his Website at ZAGSBLOG.com.