DeMarcus Cousins Wild Ejection and Attempted Fight with Fans in Puerto Rico Basketball League: A Reminder of Professionalism and Composure
Former Sacramento Kings Center DeMarcus Cousins Ejected and Suspended for Brawling with Fans in Puerto Rico Basketball League Game In a shocking incident that brought back memories of the infamous "Malice at the Palace" brawl, former Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins tried to fight fans after being ejected from a Puerto Rico basketball league game on Monday. The incident occurred in the fourth quarter of the contest, with Cousins—a member of the Guaynabo Mets—getting into a verbal altercation with a fan on the side of the court. Cousins grabbed his crotch in front of the fan, who responded by flipping him off. The center then touched the man multiple times before teammates stepped in to break up the altercation. Despite being ejected from the contest, Cousins' troubles didn't end there. As he was being led back through the tunnel, he took a swipe at an angry fan and stuck up his middle finger at the crowd. This provoked multiple fans to throw drinks at Cousins, who then attempted to go after them. Fortunately, Cousins was held back by multiple security members who prevented what could have been a much nastier incident. Cousins, 34, hasn't played in the NBA since the 2021-22 season due to injuries that slowed his once-promising career. A former first-round pick, he emerged as a future superstar early in his career but has since struggled with injuries and off-court issues. Since leaving the NBA, Cousins has continued his professional basketball career in various leagues around the world, including Taiwan and Mongolia before re-joining the Mets for the 2025 season. However, as punishment for the incident, Cousins was suspended for the rest of the season and fined $4,250. The incident drew comparisons to the "Malice at the Palace" brawl during an NBA game in 2004, when Metta World Peace (then known as Ron Artest) went into the stands and fought fans at The Palace at Auburn Hills, leading to multiple suspensions and charges from law enforcement. While Cousins' incident didn't rise to that level on Monday, it's tough to see him getting another shot in the league considering how bad the situation looked. The incident highlights the need for players to maintain their composure and avoid any unnecessary confrontations with fans or opponents. It's a reminder that even former superstars can make mistakes and that professionalism and respect for others should always be a priority on and off the court.
