The Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) league in Puerto Rico is coming down hard on DeMarcus Cousins.
BSN announced on Tuesday that the former NBA All-Star big man Cousins has been suspended for the remainder of the league season over his ugly fan incident during a game earlier this week vs. the Bayamon Cowboys. Cousins is also getting fined $4,750 for “a disqualifying foul, a technical foul, and acts that incite violence or provocation.” Additionally, Cousins will have to show cause for why he should not be fined another $5,750 (for a total possible fine of $10,000) given the seriousness of the incident.
During the game on Monday, Cousins, who now plays for the Guaynabo Mets, grabbed his crotch and exchanged middle fingers with a fan who was sitting courtside, eventually making physical contact with the fan. Then after Cousins was ejected for the incident, he exchanged more middle fingers with fans who were sitting by the tunnel, resulting in Cousins being pelted with drinks and trying to physically retaliate against the fans (before ultimately being held back).
You can see the full videos of the ugly episode here.
The BSN release also stated that the Bayamon fans who made inappropriate gestures and threw liquids have been ordered to be identified by name and suspended for the remainder of the season as well. Additionally, the league has warned Bayamon that another such incident where a fan attacks an opponent may result in their home arena getting closed and their home games being relocated to another venue.
Guaynabo has seven games remaining this regular season, so Cousins will miss all of those contests. The BSN release did not specify whether Cousins’ suspension would extend into the playoffs as well. However, Guaynabo is just 9-18 this season, so a playoff trip is very unlikely for them.
The four-time NBA All-Star Cousins, still only 34 years old, is in his second season playing in Puerto Rico after last appearing in an NBA game in 2022. Cousins had a long history of hotheaded behavior during his time in the NBA, and apparently not much has changed now that he is playing overseas.