DeMarcus Cousins claims referee was to blame for his ejection: NBA News
Sacramento Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins was ejected during a win over the Utah Jazz in the third period after a second technical foul on Saturday night. He claimed on Monday after the practice session that the decision was totally
unfair and he did not deserve the ejection.
According to the centre, it was actually the referee that initiated the problem by swearing at him.
"The referee cursed at me," Cousins said. "He told me to go (expletive) ask the other referee (about the first technical foul). I was going to say something back, kept my cool and walked away and still end up with a technical.
So I still don't understand."
Cousins was called for the first foul when he bumped into Enes Kanter and then slapped the ball out of his hands after the referee blew the whistle. DeMarcus decided to walk up to referee Gary Zielinski in attempt to get the technical
overturned. Whatever he said to the referee got him off the court immediately.
However, on Monday he claimed he said “not a word” to the referee. At five technical fouls, he is currently tied with Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks, this season. A player is suspended when he makes 16 technical fouls in
one single season.
With 15.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, he is the Kings’ best player on the court by all means and they need to make sure he stays out of trouble all of the time. That’s the same advice that Kobe Bryant gave him at the team
USA camp.
Cousins was also banned for two games earlier this month when he left the locker room to confront San Antonio Spurs T.V analyst Sean Elliott, which the league termed as a hostile behaviour. As Cousins grow as a player in the Kings
camp, he needs to work on his temperament as well.
Coach Keith Smart, when asked about the incident, quoted the famous statement by Coach Hubie Brown
“The pressure of the moment pulls reasoning out of the way.” He said “So as he matures, hopefully those things go away," Smart said. "With some players, it does. With some players, it doesn't."
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