Center DeMarcus Cousins #15 of Taiwan Beer Leopards cheers for his teamate in the court side during the T1 League game between Tainan TSG Ghost Hawks and Taiwan Beer Leopards at Taoyuan City Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Taoyuan, Taiwan.
DeMarcus Cousins.
Former NBA player DeMarcus Cousins has been suspended from Puerto Rico's basketball league for the remainder of the season following an incident with fans
Cousins' team also terminated his contract
Multiple videos on social media show Cousins getting into tense altercations with several fans during Monday night's game
Former NBA star DeMarcus Cousins has been suspended from a basketball league in Puerto Rico and had his contract terminated after getting into a tense altercation with several fans during an away game on Monday night.
Cousins, 34, was seen arguing, and eventually grabbing a fan who had mocked him from the front row before he's lead away by security in videos on social media on Monday, June 9, according to the Associated Press.
Cousins' team, Mets de Guaynabo, announced they were terminating the former NBA star’s contract midway through his second season with the club.
“As an organization, we strongly condemn any form of violence or provocation, whether on or off the field. Safety, respect, and sportsmanship are non-negotiable values for this franchise,” the Mets said in a statement announcing they were ending Cousins’ contract, the AP reported.
The National Superior Basketball Association in Puerto Rico also announced Cousins would be suspended from the league the remainder of the 2025 season and fined $4,250 for “acts that incite violence or provocation” during a game between his Mets de Guaynabo and the Bayamón Cowboys.
“In addition, the player must show cause why he should not be fined an additional $5,750, given the severity of the incident,” the league said, according to an English translation of its statement.
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The fans involved in the incident have also been suspended for the remainder of the season, according to the league, including one who “made inappropriate and inciting gestures” and others who “threw liquids and other objects” at Cousins as he was being led off the court.
According to videos shared on social media, Cousins can be seen arguing with a fan sitting courtside, who appeared to be making gestures towards the basketball player mimicking someone crying and wiping away their tears with their fists. Cousins then appears to approach the fan, grab his genitals and shake them in the fans face before grabbing at the fan’s arm.
Center DeMarcus Cousins #15 of Taiwan Beer Leopards attempts to make a layup during the T1 League game between Tainan TSG Ghost Hawks and Taiwan Beer Leopards at Taoyuan City Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Center DeMarcus Cousins #15 of Taiwan Beer Leopards attempts to make a layup during the T1 League game between Tainan TSG Ghost Hawks and Taiwan Beer Leopards at Taoyuan City Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Several of Cousins’ teammates then run over and get between Cousins and the fan, appearing to try and calm the situation down. Some nearby fans continue to yell at Cousins while others get up and move away from the tense situation.
In another video, Cousins is seen being led off the court when he gets in an argument with another fan yelling at him from above the player’s entrance tunnel. Cousins appears to grab at the fan, who then splashes a drink towards Cousins. Suddenly, a barrage of drinks and garbage begin to be thrown at Cousins as he appears to be forcibly removed from the court down the tunnel.
“Fan access to and presence on the court area is not a right, and such presence is a privilege that may be revoked at any time,” the league said in its statement. “Access to the court area does not entitle fans to insult, provoke, or verbally attack.”
Following the incident, the league ordered the Bayamon Cowboys organization to “maintain permanent security in the hallway where the incident occurred and in the court area for the remainder of the season.”
Center DeMarcus Cousins #15 of Taiwan Beer Leopards looks on during the T1 League game between Tainan TSG Ghost Hawks and Taiwan Beer Leopards at Taoyuan City Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Center DeMarcus Cousins #15 of Taiwan Beer Leopards looks on during the T1 League game between Tainan TSG Ghost Hawks and Taiwan Beer Leopards at Taoyuan City Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Taoyuan, Taiwan.
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Cousins was in the middle of his second season with the Mets after joining the Puerto Rico league following 17 seasons in the NBA, and a brief stint in Taiwan.
The Mobile, Ala., native averaged nearly 20 points and more than 10 rebounds a game over the course of his NBA career with several teams. He spent more than half his career with the Sacramento Kings and the New Orleans Pelicans, before becoming an NBA journeyman with stints in Los Angeles, Golden State, Denver, Houston and Milwaukee.