As a former four-time All-Star who once appeared to be a shoo-in for the Basketball Hall of Fame, DeMarcus Cousins has not gone gently into his basketball good night.
Cousins, who suffered a devastating Achilles tendon injury while playing in New Orleans in 2018, has sought to string out his playing days on the international and other lower level circuits, playing in Greece, as well the Big Three league, and also in that (ahem) well-known basketball hotbed, Mongolia.
But Cousins has most recently been biding his time playing in Puerto Rico. In the winter, he signed with Mets de Guaynabo, joining his former Sacramento Kings teammate Derrick Williams, who also plays for the club. Cousins had played for Mets de Guaynabo in 2023, too.
In nine games before Monday, Cousins averaged 19.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists.
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On Monday, though, Cousins and his team traveled to Bayamon, at 21-7 the best team in Puerto Rico's BSN. Guaynabo, meanwhile, entered as the third-worst of 12 teams, at 9-18.
During that game, Cousins--who was known for his short fuse during his NBA career--was ejected for getting into a fight with a courtside fan. He then found himself in an epic confrontation with fans as he left the court, doused with drinks multiple times as he flipped off the crowd and attempted to go back out in search of a fight.
The initial incident was captured here. (Translation of the caption: "This is how the Demarcus Cousins ​​situation began when a fan started having an argument with the player from the stands.")
And things unraveled from there.
Not a great showing from Cousins, but then, not a great look from the Puerto Rican fans, either.