DeMarcus Cousins has drinks thrown at him, tries to fight fans after wild ejection in Puerto Rico basketball league
DeMarcus Cousins hasn't played in the NBA since the 2021-22 season. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
Former Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins came extremely close to re-creating the "Malice at the Palace" on Monday. Cousins tried to fight fans after a wild ejection during a Puerto Rico basketball league game.
The incident occurred in the fourth quarter of the contest. Cousins — a member of the Guaynabo Mets — appeared to get into a verbal altercation with a fan on the side of the court. Cousins grabbed his crotch in front of the fan, who responded by flipping off Cousins. The center then touched the man multiple times before teammates stepped in.
Cousins was ejected from the contest, but the incident wasn't over. As Cousins was being led back through the tunnel, he took a swipe at an angry fan and stuck up his middle finger at the crowd. At that point, multiple fans threw drinks at Cousins, who then attempted to go after the fans.
Cousins was held back by multiple security members, who prevented what could have been a much nastier incident.
Cousins, 34, hasn't played in the NBA since the 2021-22 season. A former first-round pick, Cousins emerged as a future superstar early in his career before injuries slowed him.
Advertisement
Since leaving the NBA, Cousins has continued his professional basketball career in various leagues around the world. He initially joined the Guaynabo Mets in 2023, but he also played in Taiwan and Mongolia before re-joining the Mets for the 2025 season.
It's unclear whether Cousins will continue playing for the Mets following Monday's ejection and near-fight, which drew comparisons to the "Malice at the Palace."
During an NBA game in 2004, Metta World Peace — then known as Ron Artest — went into the stands and fought fans at The Palace at Auburn Hills, where the Detroit Pistons used to play. Multiple players got involved in the scuffle, leading to multiple suspensions and charges from law enforcement.
The Cousins incident didn't rise to that level Monday, but it's tough to see him getting another shot in the league considering how bad the situation looked.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
29 minutes ago
- Washington Post
The breakout star of the NBA playoffs now has a new foe: Scrutiny
Yes, for the Indiana Pacers to scrounge up three more miracles, Tyrese Haliburton must play better. No, he doesn't need to conform to your shot-chucking expectations. The NBA Finals stage is such compelling theater for burgeoning stars because it presents these annoying mind games. Until a standout player leads his team to a championship, he wages simultaneous battles against foe and perception. The competition is tough, but it pales in comparison to the scrutiny of whether his game is up to snuff.
Fox Sports
35 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
NBA mock draft: While Duke's Flagg stands out, guards could have their own big Round 1 showing
Associated Press While Duke's Cooper Flagg is the headliner, this month's NBA draft could be just as much about the high-end guard prospects available. Flagg has long been the heavy favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick. But beyond the versatile forward is a bevy of guards prominently positioned in the top tiers of the talent pool, which could make for a very good night for the position when the first round begins June 25. It starts with multiple freshmen in Rutgers' Dylan Harper, Baylor's VJ Edgecombe, Texas' Tre Johnson and Oklahoma's Jeremiah Fears. Throw in Illinois' Kasparas Jakucionis, and guards make up five of the top nine picks — and ultimately, roughly half of the first-round selections — in the second edition of The Associated Press' NBA mock draft. 1. Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg, forward, Duke Fresh off trading away Luka Doncic, the Mavericks luck into a versatile 6-foot-8, 221-pound forward who led the Blue Devils to the Final Four while becoming only the fourth freshman named AP men's college basketball national player of the year. He can thrive as a scorer ( Atlantic Coast Conference freshman-record 42 points against Notre Dame) or playmaker (team-best 4.2 assists). His length and competitive edge can impact games defensively (team highs of 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks). And he has an all-around game more advanced than his age with room to develop as he turns 19 in December. 2. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper, guard, Rutgers The son of former NBA guard Ron Harper offers size at the point (6-5, 213 pounds) and averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists as a freshman. He could join NBA rookie of the year Stephon Castle in the backcourt for star Victor Wembanyama. Still, there's an awkward question of how a team with Harper and fellow one-and-done prospect Ace Bailey went just 15-17. 3. Philadelphia 76ers: VJ Edgecombe, guard, Baylor The only benefit to injury-riddled seasons for stars Joel Embiid and Paul George was landing a high pick for a team that still has designs on contending in the Eastern Conference. The 6-4, 193-pound Edgecombe, who turns 20 in July, could help with two-way potential, rim-attacking athleticism and 3-point shooting. 4. Charlotte Hornets: Ace Bailey, forward, Rutgers The 6-8 forward is a versatile athlete capable of stretching defenses (five January games with at least four made 3s) and tools to develop defensively. He averaged 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds, though for a losing team despite featuring Bailey and Harper as the NBA-bound headliners. The Hornets already have 2023 No. 2 overall pick Brandon Miller as a wing forward, so this would bet on talent over position need. 5. Utah Jazz: Tre Johnson, guard, Texas It's a simple selling point for the league's worst team: the 6-5, 190-pound freshman can score. He averaged 19.9 points to lead the Southeastern Conference and all freshmen nationally while shooting 39.7% on 3s. He broke Durant's freshman Longhorns record when he scored 39 points against Arkansas in February. 6. Washington Wizards: Jeremiah Fears, guard, Oklahoma The Wizards need help in multiple areas after winning 18 games. They can start with the 6-3, 180-pound combo guard who averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists in his lone college season. Highlights included a four-point play to beat a ranked Michigan team, along with scoring 57 points in two SEC Tournament games. He also got to the line 6.3 times per game while ranking tied for 11th in Division I by making 183 free throws. But he made just 28.4% of his 3s and must add bulk. 7. New Orleans Pelicans: Kon Knueppel, forward, Duke The 6-7, 217-pound Knueppel is an efficient scorer who was named ACC Tournament MVP while Flagg was sidelined by injury. Knueppel shot 40.6% on 3-pointers and ranked sixth in Division I by shooting 91.4% at the foul line. The freshman also had 10 games with at least four assists to show potential as a secondary playmaker for a Final Four team. 8. Brooklyn Nets: Khaman Maluach, center, Duke With four first-round picks, the Nets could start with a long-term bet on the 7-1, 253-pound South Sudanese big man to hit his potential as a rim-protecting lob threat. Maluach had the combine's biggest wingspan (7-6 3/4) and showed stretches of capably defending guards on switches in his lone college season. He shot 71.2% largely on dunks and putbacks, so he'll need time to refine a raw offensive game. 9. Toronto Raptors: Kasparas Jakucionis, guard/forward, Illinois The 6-5 freshman has shown an all-around floor game. He averaged 15 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists as a freshman, including one run of six straight 20-point games that featured matchups against three ranked teams — including then-No. 1 Tennessee. He also had four double-digit rebounding games and eight games with at least seven assists. 10. Houston Rockets: Derik Queen, center, Maryland The 6-9, 248-pounder earned a spot in March Madness lore by banking in a buzzer-beating runner to beat Colorado State and reach the NCAA Sweet 16. The nimble move illustrated the still-developing upside for a skilled freshman who nearly averaged a double-double (16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds). 11. Portland Trail Blazers: Collin Murray-Boyles, forward, South Carolina The sophomore has a strong frame (6-7, 240) that could allow him to work some on the wing and bang inside with a nearly 7-1 wingspan. He contributed as a capable scorer (16.8), rebounder (8.3) and defender (1.3 blocks, 1.5 steals). 12. Chicago Bulls: Carter Bryant, forward, Arizona The 6-7, 215-pound freshman reserve shot 37.1% on 3s and showed defensive potential by averaging a block per game despite playing just 19 minutes a night. He had one of the top max vertical leaps at the combine (39.5 inches). 13. Atlanta Hawks: Asa Newell, forward/center, Georgia The 6-9, 224-pound freshman who helped the Bulldogs return to the NCAAs for the first time in a decade offers an upside that could allow him to contribute as a small-ball big man or alongside another big man as a power forward. He could be a home-state frontcourt boost for the Hawks, though the 19-year-old must get stronger and improve his shooting (29.2% on 3s). 14. San Antonio Spurs: Noa Essengue, forward, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany) The lanky 6-9, 194-pound forward from France has been honing versatile skills in Germany and turns 19 in December. He has the ability to run the court and attack off the dribble, averaging 12.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in Germany this season. 15. Oklahoma City Thunder: Thomas Sorber, center, Georgetown The 6-9, 263-pound freshman offers a sturdy interior presence with a 7-6 wingspan, proving capable of operating in the post or in traffic while also flashing face-up skills. Sorber, 19, also averaged 2.0 blocks to offer defensive potential. It would help for him to improve his 3-point shot (6 of 37, 16.2%) but he would be a luxury boost up front for a team that won a league-best 68 games and reached the NBA Finals. 16. Orlando Magic: Jase Richardson, guard, Michigan State The son of former NBA guard Jason Richardson is small (6-1, 178) for a combo guard, and he mentioned after a recent workout with Portland that he's working to prove he can play the point. Shooting 41.2% on 3s is enticing regardless. 17. Minnesota Timberwolves: Rasheer Fleming, forward/center, Saint Joseph's The 6-8, 232-pound Fleming increased his output in three college seasons and brings a sturdy frame to the NBA. He averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks, and has improved his 3-pointing from 31.3% through his first two college seasons to 39% last year. He also had one of the combine's biggest wingspans at better than 7-5. 18. Washington Wizards: Egor Demin, guard/forward, BYU A top international prospect from Russia, the 19-year-old Demin spent a season at BYU as a playmaker with size (6-9, 199). That could allow teams to run offense through him as a strong passer who had 15 assists against two turnovers in 54 minutes of work during his last two NCAA Tournament games for a Sweet 16 team. 19. Brooklyn Nets: Ben Saraf, guard, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany) After grabbing Maluach at eight, the Nets could bolster their perimeter with the 6-6, 201-pound lefty from Israel. Saraf has proven adept as a scoring playmaker, averaging 12.8 points and 4.6 assists this season in Germany. 20. Miami Heat: Liam McNeeley, forward, UConn The 6-7, 215-pound McNeeley jumped right in as a freshman starter for the two-time reigning NCAA champion Huskies and projects as a floor-stretching wing, including with 22 points in the NCAAs against eventual champion Florida and a 38-point showing against then-No. 24 Creighton. 21. Utah Jazz: Danny Wolf, forward/center, Michigan The 6-11, 252-pound junior thrived in moving from the Ivy League (Yale) to the Big Ten as a low-post presence, averaging 13.2 points and 9.7 rebounds while ranking among Division I leaders with 15 double-doubles. He also showed the ability to step outside (38 made 3s in 37 games). 22. Atlanta Hawks: Nolan Traore, guard, Saint-Quentin BB (France) The 6-5, 175-pound guard from France is a scoring playmaker and has been regarded as a possible lottery prospect. The 19-year-old had previously drawn recruiting interest from programs like Duke, Alabama and Gonzaga before opting to remain in his home country last year. 23. Indiana Pacers: Cedric Coward, guard, Washington State The 6-5, 213-pound Coward has taken an interesting path. He started his career at Division III Willamette and spent two seasons at Eastern Washington, then played six games at Washington State due to injury and planned to transfer to Duke. But he stayed in the draft after testing well at the combine, including the best wingspan (7-2+) and standing reach (8-10) among guards, a 38.5-inch max vertical leap, and solid shooting-drill showings. 24. Oklahoma City Thunder: Nique Clifford, guard, Colorado State The 6-5, 202-pound Clifford took his time developing as a five-year player, though the 23-year-old is coming off a huge year (18.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists). He also improved his outside shot, going from making 33.8% over three seasons at Colorado to 37.7% on higher volume in two years with the Rams. 25. Orlando Magic: Walter Clayton Jr., guard, Florida The 6-2, 199-pound combo guard was an AP first-team All-American and Final Four's most outstanding player in the Gators' national title run. That included monster tournament performances — notably the frantic comeback against Texas Tech in the Elite Eight and a career-best scoring effort against Auburn in the Final Four — that bode well for a gamer who repeatedly rose to the challenge. 26. Brooklyn Nets: Will Riley, guard/forward, Illinois The freshman from Canada worked as a top reserve averaging 12.6 points. Riley, 19, has potential as a scorer and passer with size (6-8) as he refines his game and develops physically (186 pounds). 27. Brooklyn Nets: Drake Powell, guard/forward, North Carolina The 6-6, 195-pound freshman offers athleticism, outside shooting (37.9% on 3s) and defensive potential. Powell led all combine players in standing vertical leap (37.5 inches, 4+ inches more than anyone else) and max vertical (43.0) to go with a 7-foot wingspan. 28. Boston Celtics: Maxime Raynaud, center, Stanford The fourth-year senior from France is a skilled 7-footer who can step outside and space the floor. He joined Flagg as the only unanimous AP all-ACC first-team picks after averaging 20.2 points and 10.6 rebounds while making 67 3s in 35 games. 29. Phoenix Suns: Joan Beringer, center, Cedevita Olimpija (Slovenia) Beringer, who turns 19 in November, projects as a mobile threat who can work in the pick-and-roll and as a lob threat. The French big man needs time to strengthen a lean 6-11, 230-pound frame. 30. Los Angeles Clippers: Hugo Gonzalez, guard/forward, Real Madrid (Spain) The 19-year-old with a 6-6, 205-pound frame has flashed shooting range and the ability to attack off the dribble. He earned MVP honors after helping the Under-18 Real Madrid team win last year's Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament (ANGT) in Berlin. ___ Also considered (in alphabetical order): Kam Jones, guard, Marquette; Ryan Kalkbrenner, center, Creighton; Noah Penda, forward, Le Mans Sarthe Basket (France); Hansen Yang, center, Qingdao (China). ___ The AP NBA mock draft analyzes the top prospects who have declared for the league's annual event. More AP NBA: ___ AP Basketball Writers Tim Reynolds, Aaron Beard, Brian Mahoney and John Marshall contributed to this report. ___ AP NBA: recommended
USA Today
36 minutes ago
- USA Today
'Organized chaos': Pacers offense thrives on trust, flow. Is it enough to win NBA title?
'Organized chaos': Pacers offense thrives on trust, flow. Is it enough to win NBA title? Show Caption Hide Caption Pacers' Game 3 adjustments To bounce back in Game 3, the Pacers need better starts, transition offense, and a plan for Shai. The Indiana Pacers are a blur. For them, no possession is too short. They scoop rebounds and fling passes up and down the floor, looking to destabilize opponents, getting open looks before defenses can get set. Sometimes, their up-tempo offense doesn't even need to come off misses; there have been times this postseason when the Pacers have inbounded passes off of made shots, launching outlets ahead to get free layups. Indiana ranked seventh in pace in the regular season, generating 100.76 possessions per 48 minutes. And, for the Pacers to have a shot to upset the Thunder in the NBA Finals, maintaining that destabilizing speed will be paramount because no team has been better on defense than Oklahoma City. 'They're very stubborn in their approach,' Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said Wednesday, June 4. 'They kind of grind you with the way they play. They wear you down. … 'They know their identity and they stick to it, no matter what.' How do the Pacers do it, exactly? For one, they're something of an anomaly in today's NBA, and, to a certain extent, Indiana thrives on trust — practically requires it. Essentially, coach Rick Carlisle, in his fourth season with the Pacers, has evolved Indiana's offense, yielding in-game control to his players. Carlisle allows them to operate within the flow of the game. He has entrusted them to call plays or even go by feel, having loose actions that players can execute outside of set plays. It's a philosophy based on off-ball movement and spacing, one that All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton recently characterized as 'organized chaos' — and he meant that as a high compliment. MORE: Tyrese Haliburton going to film school to decode Thunder's defense OPINION: Pacers cannot keep relying on crazy comebacks. They must start quicker, finish stronger. Center Myles Turner, the longest-tenured Pacer, in his 10th season with the franchise, has seen this evolution first-hand. 'Rick was a coach that used to call a play every single possession,' Turner told reporters Wednesday, June 4. 'Even Rick's first year here, we had a game where he did that: he stopped us and called a play every single possession. 'In the dawn of this new NBA, especially in the playoffs, that stuff doesn't work. It's easy to scout. But when you have random movement on offense, guys that are someone like Tyrese who wants to pass the ball, it makes the game a little bit easier, especially for a guy like myself who thrives with space.' Tyrese Haliburton is the catalyst It all starts with Haliburton. He's a pass-first point guard, and the Pacers take their cue from him. His default is to get out into the open floor, pushing the pace. He's Indiana's motor, and his energy rubs off on others. But even when Indiana operates in the half-court, it tends to operate with speed — thanks to Haliburton. Typically, he will begin sets with the ball in his hands, while other players rotate and work off each other. Sometimes, Haliburton will feign drives and get into the paint before dishing it to open players. Other times, he'll simply look for teammates in open spaces. But what makes the Pacers excel is a selflessness — embodied most by Haliburton, almost to a fault. Haliburton leads all players in the playoffs with 9.8 assists per game, though he can become too deferential. Indiana is certainly at its best when Haliburton balances distribution and shot-making, but his pass-first mentality trickles down to his teammates, who — rather than focus on iso actions to stack points and stats — work to find the open man. 'I just want to impact winning,' Haliburton said Tuesday, May 27, after his historic triple-double in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals. 'I'm just trying to do that to the best of my ability. We're building something special here. We're having a lot of fun with what we're doing. I feel like I'm at the forefront along with a lot of these guys. I'm just trying to play the right way." 'Better than the sum of the parts' Aside from Haliburton, the Pacers also need players who can score from all three levels. Turner is an excellent example, a center who can knock down 3s just as comfortably as he can lace mid-range jumpers and work in the post. Shooting guard Aaron Nesmith ignited for six 3-pointers in the fourth quarter of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals and backup center Thomas Bryant, who had been out of the rotation, drained 3-of-4 from deep in the decisive Game 6. 'I think the whole is better than the sum of the parts,' Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said Wednesday, June 4, when asked about teams coached by Carlisle. 'Almost consistently across every year he's ever coached, the team is better than their sum. I think that's a reflection of him. 'His teams play a clear identity, stay in character through all the ups and downs. That identity has changed over the years based on his teams, the league trends. But his teams are always in character. This year is certainly no exception.'
