Former NBA star DeMarcus Cousins, now playing in Puerto Rico, was suspended for the remainder of the season and had his contract terminated after being involved in a brawl with fans, according to The Associated Press.
During a game on Monday, Cousins made an obscene gesture toward a fan at courtside, then grabbed the fan’s arm after they exchanged words. He was eventually pulled away by his teammates. After being ejected, Cousins argued with another fan on his way back to the locker room while several people threw liquids at him.
On Tuesday, the Baloncesto Superior Nacional league fined Cousins $4,250 for his actions. He could face an additional $5,750 fine, according to AP.
“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,” Cousins’ team stated in a news release.
This is the second season in Puerto Rico for the 34-year-old, who last played in the NBA during the 2021/22 season. He’s averaging 18.2 points and nine rebounds per game, but his Mets team is only 9-18.
There’s more international news to pass along:
- Jarrett Culver, the sixth pick in the 2019 draft, is nearing an agreement with the Sendai 89ers in Japan, sources tell Domantas Urbonas of BasketNews. The 26-year-old, who played four NBA seasons, spent this year with the Osceola Magic in the G League, averaging 13.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 34 games.
- Former NBA player PJ Dozier has decided to re-sign with Anadolu Efes amid significant interest on the EuroLeague free agent market, Urbonas adds in a separate story. Dozier, 28, helped the Turkish team make a late-season charge to the playoffs after signing with them in January.
- Nets draft-and-stash player Nikola Milutinov has signed a three-year contract to remain with Olympiacos, Urbonas tweets. A report earlier this week indicated that Milutinov was close to leaving for Olimpia Milano, and he reportedly also received a large offer from Panathinaikos.