DeMarcus Cousins suspended by Kings
Patrick Patterson celebrates with DeMarcus Cousins (15) after Cousins made a basket in the last few minutes of the second half of UK’s 58-56 win over Vanderbilt at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville on Saturday, Feb. 20. 2010. File photo.
December 22, 2012
By Tom Hurley | @TomHurleyKernel
The Sacramento Kings have suspended center DeMarcus Cousins indefinitely for “unprofessional behavior and conduct detrimental to the team.”
Cousins was involved in a verbal altercation with Kings coach Keith Smart during Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Smart pulled Cousins from the game following the altercation, and the former UK star watched the rest of the game, which Sacramento went on to lose 97-85, from the bench.
The fifth overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft had scored nine points, three assists and five rebounds, with two steals, in 20 minutes of playing time before being benched by Smart.
Earlier in December Cousins was suspended for one game, without pay, by the NBA after a making contact with Dallas Mavericks guard O.J. Mayo.
That followed a two-game suspension earlier in the season following an altercation with a member of the San Antonio Spurs’ broadcasting team.
On the court, Cousins has been a valuable asset for the Kings this season, averaging 16.6 points and 9.5 rebounds in 30.3 minutes per game.
