Demarcus Cousins, a four-time NBA All-Star, was banned from his team in Puerto Rico’s Baloncesto Superior Nacional league for the remainder of the season following a violent altercation with fans during a game. The incident began when Cousins made a vulgar gesture toward a fan, prompting a physical confrontation. Cousins grabbed the fan’s arm as the situation escalated, leading to a scuffle with another fan who joined in, hurling beverages and other objects at Cousins.
As Cousins attempted to leave the court, he flipped off the crowd and grabbed at a fan yelling at him, resulting in contact with the fan. The other fan then threw a beverage at Cousins, and the situation deteriorated further with more fans joining in, throwing drinks and objects at him. Cousins was irate and had to be held back from pursuing the fans. The league fined him $4,250, and the fine could increase to $10,000 if he fails to show cause for his actions.
Cousins, who was selected fifth overall in the 2010 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings, last played in the NBA during the 2021-22 season with the Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets. He has since played in international leagues, including Mongolia and the Big3 League, which is run by actor and rapper Ice Cube. This latest incident adds to his recent history of controversial behavior, highlighting the challenges faced by former NBA stars in maintaining their public image and conduct in post-NBA settings.