It is hard to remember now, when angry fans are throwing food and drinks at an enraged DeMarcus Cousins in Puerto Rico.
But a decade ago, the former Kentucky star and No. 5 overall NBA Draft pick was one of the most dominating players in the league and loaded with superstar potential.
7
DeMarcus Cousins had All-NBA talent but struggled to control his emotionsCredit: Getty
7
The former Sacramento star appeared to confront fans in Puerto RicoCredit: x@LaGuerraBSN
“It’s obvious what’s being done out here,” Cousins said in 2016.
“It’s on a nightly basis. I hope the world can see now what’s really going on out here, because it’s getting ridiculous.”
Those fiery words followed a 55-point outburst, which saw Cousins shoot 17-of-28 from the field and 16-of-17 from the free-throw line, while adding 14 rebounds and three blocks in the Sacramento Kings‘ 126-121 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
The 6ft 10in and 270lb Cousins had Shaquille O’Neal 2.0 talent, and his four All-Star selections only teased his true hardwood skills.
Yet on Monday, video footage went viral of a 34-year-old Cousins playing out the end of his basketball career in Puerto Rico and appearing to be ejected from a game, then clashing with fans in the stands in a chaotic scene.
As the former King, Pelican, Nugget, Warrior, Laker, Rocket, Buck and Clipper angrily walked toward a tunnel, he yelled at fans.
Then Cousins reached toward the stands and appeared to make contact with a fan with his right hand, which was followed by an apparent middle finger toward another fan.
Food and drinks were instantly tossed at a two-time All-NBA selection who averaged averaged a career double-double (19.6 points, 10.2 rebounds), but wrecked his ascension in The Association with outburst after outburst.
“What an end to your career,” one fan tweeted.
“If this was an NBA team they’d absolutely pack that person up,” a second fan posted.
7
Cousins was seen reaching into the stands and provoking fansCredit: x@HoopMixOnly
7
He ended up on the floor in a chaotic sceneCredit: x@HoopMixOnly
7
Food and drinks were thrown at CousinsCredit: x@12magnificos
“Man, Cousins really doesn’t hold back when things get heated,” a third fan wrote. “That moment shows why he’s both loved and feared— always bringing that raw, unfiltered energy to the game.”
There is no doubt that bad-luck injuries undercut Cousins’ ability to dominate in the NBA.
When Stephen Curry‘s Golden State Warriors fell 4-2 in the 2019 Finals to the Kawhi Leonard and Pascal Siakam Toronto Raptors, Cousins played through a torn left quadriceps.
“I was terrible in the Finals. One-leg bandit on the floor,” Cousins said on the All the Smoke podcast.
“But I wanted to be a part of it. In the Finals, you play hurt. That’s when you lay your body on the line. I went out there and I gave it what I had. I helped in spots. But I wasn’t supposed to be on the floor.”
In 2018, Cousins scored 44 points, grabbed 24 rebounds and dished out 10 assists, following Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in NBA history.
NBA’s Greatest
Emotional Shaq fires warning to new ESPN colleagues as Inside the NBA co-host fights back tears
Four days later, he tore his left Achilles and underwent season-ending surgery.
And in 2019, Cousins’ one-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers was derailed by a torn ACL suffered in an offseason pickup game.
He eventually received a championship ring, yet he bounced between five teams in his last two NBA years and his nightly stats were cut in half.
But Cousins also flirted with trouble throughout his volatile career, and his early years in Sacramento — defined by bad body language and unpredictable reactions — foreshadowed his scary Puerto Rico meltdown.
In 2012, Cousins was involved in a tense confrontation with Utah Jazz guard Devin Harris.
“Honestly, I’m tired of the kid,” Cousins said.
“I don’t know what his issue is. I’m tired of the kid, honestly. I’m tired of him. I don’t know what his issue is, but I can definitely solve it.
That same year, Kings coach Paul Westphal released a statement criticizing Cousins’ commitment to the team, and confirming that Cousins had asked for a trade.
7
Even when Cousins scored 55 points with the Kings, he wasn’t happyCredit: youtube@inh nhan Miu
7
Cousins has played in Taiwan, Mongolia and Puerto Rico in recent yearsCredit: Getty
“When a player continually, aggressively, lets it be known that he is unwilling/unable to embrace traveling in the same direction as his team, it cannot be ignored indefinitely,” Westphal said.
Four years later, Sacramento suspended Cousins for “conduct detrimental to the team,” after video footage showed Cousins yelling and aggressively gesturing at new Kings coach George Karl.
The same year, Cousins confronted and shouted obscenities at a Sacramento newspaper columnist.
“We’re going to have some real f—ing issues,” Cousins said.
Then in 2019, the NBA announced it was investigating a claim that Cousins had threatened violence against a former girlfriend.
Fading talent
DeMarcus Cousins
Age: 34
NBA career: 11 seasons
Teams: Kings, Pelicans, Warriors, Lakers, Rockets, Clippers, Bucks, Nuggets
Stats: 19.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.1 blocks
College: Kentucky (No. 5 pick in 2010 by Sacramento)
Cousins fininshed third in NBA Rookie of the Year voting in 2010-11, and made three All-Star teams before he was 27.
But he only averaged 8.4 points and 4.9 rebounds in the playoffs, and started just five of his 20 games played in the postseason.
On Monday, Cousins went viral after aggressively confronting fans and having trash thrown at him from the stands.
Long-frustrated Kings fans watched similar meltdowns from their former franchise face a decade ago.