Ex-NBA star DeMarcus Cousins booted from Puerto Rico league
Former NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins was suspended by a Puerto Rico basketball league and had his contract rescinded after igniting a brawl earlier this week.
The Baloncesto Superior Nacional League also fined Cousins $4,250, and he could be subject to another fine of $5,570, according to the league.
The incident occurred Monday when Cousins was playing on the road for the Guaynabo Mets.
"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," the Mets said in a news release.
The situation began with Cousins exchanging words with a fan before he grabbed his crotch while walking toward the courtside seats. Cousins then grabbed the fan's arm as things quickly escalated.
Teammates attempted to pull Cousins away and other fans began to hurl insults at Cousins. After being ejected, Cousins was doused by liquids as he left the floor. Security tackled him at one point to hold him back from trying to get into the stands.
Cousins, 34, was averaging 18.2 points and 9.0 rebounds while playing in the top pro basketball league in Puerto Rico for the second time. He also played in the league in 2023.
Cousins hasn't played in the NBA since the 2021-22 season. He was a four-time All-Star in 11 seasons but his career was derailed by two major injuries.
In January 2018, he sustained an Achilles tendon injury with the New Orleans Pelicans. After returning to play 30 games for the Golden State Warriors the next season, he tore the ACL in his left knee in August 2019 as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers and missed the entire season.
Cousins played for seven NBA teams with the best part of his career being his 6 1/2 seasons with the Sacramento Kings from 2010-17. He finished third in Rookie of the Year balloting in 2011 after being the fifth overall pick out of Kentucky.
Overall, Cousins averaged 19.6 points and 10.2 rebounds in 654 games (561 starts). — Field Level Media/Reuters
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
2 hours ago
- GMA Network
End of an era: Buss family's lasting legacy with LA Lakers
After nearly half a century shaping one of the NBA's most well-known franchises, the Buss family is stepping down as majority owners of the Los Angeles Lakers, marking the end of an era that fused sporting dominance with Hollywood spectacle. When Jerry Buss, a former chemist turned real estate mogul, acquired the Lakers in 1979 for $67.5 million, he not only bought a basketball team, but capitalised on an opportunity to transform the league into the ultimate show. To make the Lakers a must-see attraction, Buss first elevated the product on the court. He drafted Earvin "Magic" Johnson, made Kareem Abdul-Jabbar the league's highest-paid player, and hired Pat Riley as head coach — laying the foundation for five titles between 1980 and 1988. But Buss's true innovation was off the court. He transformed the Forum into a cultural hot spot, packing courtside seats with celebrities and making the Forum Club the place to see and be seen. Timeouts featured live music and the "Laker Girls," while Prime Ticket — a cable network he co-founded — brought the show into homes across Los Angeles. The "Showtime" era faded after a quiet stretch in the 1990s, but the Lakers roared back in the 2000s, winning three straight titles with Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, then adding two more alongside Pau Gasol in 2009 and 2010. When Buss died in 2013, he left behind a team that won 10 NBA titles under his stewardship, and perhaps more importantly, a blueprint that helped turn the NBA into a global entertainment powerhouse and the Lakers into a world-renowned brand. ENDURING LEGACY Jerry's daughter Jeanie succeeded him as Lakers' governor, becoming the first woman to serve as controlling owner of an NBA championship team. A steady presence in a high-pressure role, she navigated internal power struggles — most notably removing her brother Jim from basketball operations in 2017 — to reassert the franchise's direction. Her leadership focused on bringing stability and renewed ambition at a time when the team was struggling on and off the court. Her commitment paid off in 2020. With the arrival of the NBA's all-time leading scorer, LeBron James, the Lakers won their 17th title inside the league's pandemic bubble, Jeanie's first as principal owner. Jeanie Buss made another bold move to reignite the franchise in February with a blockbuster trade to acquire perennial MVP contender Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks. She closed out a historic chapter for the franchise by agreeing to sell a majority stake in the team to Mark Walter in a deal that valued the Lakers at $10 billion — the largest ever for a professional sports team. Despite the change in ownership, Jeanie Buss will stay on in her role as team governor for the immediate future. —Reuters
GMA Network
a day ago
- GMA Network
NBA: Walter's deep pockets could fuel Lakers return to glory
LOS ANGELES — Billionaire Mark Walter's purchase of a majority stake in the Los Angeles Lakers, in a deal that values the team at $10 billion, adds another glittering asset to his sports portfolio and could usher in another championship era for the National Basketball League franchise. The Buss family, the longest-tenured owners in the NBA, is entering into an agreement to make the sale to Walter, ESPN reported on Wednesday, in what would be the largest-ever sale of a professional sports team. The Lakers have yet to confirm the deal. Walter, 65, is the CEO of holding company TWG Global and financial services firm Guggenheim Partners, and LA sports fans do not need to look far to see the impact his mighty checkbook can have on a franchise. Walter, along with a group that included Lakers legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson, purchased the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012 for $2.15 billion in what at the time was an MLB record. Under his ownership, the Dodgers have made 12 straight playoff appearances, won two championships, including last season's World Series and added generational talents Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani. 'Ecstatic' Johnson, a Hall of Famer who won five NBA titles with the Lakers, said fans should be "ecstatic" about Iowa native Walter becoming the team's next owner. "A few things I can tell you about Mark - he is driven by winning, excellence, and doing everything the right way," Johnson said in a post on X on Wednesday. The reported $10 billion valuation of the Lakers was eyebrow-raising, especially after their historic rivals the Boston Celtics sold for $6.1 billion in April. But it was not a surprise that Walter would be on the other side of the deal. He has been a stakeholder in the team since 2021. Walter's net worth is estimated at $12.5 billion by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Unlike Major League Baseball, the NBA has a salary cap. Still, there are plenty of ways for a deep-pocketed owner to use his money to the team's advantage, from developing players to hiring the best staff. The Lakers have 17 NBA titles, with the latest one coming in 2020. That is second only to the Celtics who have 18, including in 2024. In addition to his ownership of the Dodgers, Walter is also co-owner of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks, Premier League side Chelsea FC and, through TWG Motorsports, owns Cadillac Formula One team, which will debut next year. His other financial interests include international women's tennis competition the Billie Jean Cup and the Professional Women's Hockey League, which named its championship trophy the "Walter Cup" after him and his wife Kimbra. Walter's growing footprint in the Los Angeles sports scene comes at a time when the Southern California city is preparing to play a key role in hosting FIFA World Cup matches next summer. Dodger Stadium will host baseball and softball competitions during the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, while the Lakers' home of Arena in downtown LA will serve as the venue for gymnastics and boxing. — Reuters
GMA Network
2 days ago
- GMA Network
Young Negrense cager selected for NBA, FIBA's BWB Camp
Talisay City born Paul Barcelona is among the 60 elite boys and girls below 17 years old from the Asia Pacific Region selected to take part in the 15th Basketball Without Borders Asia Camp slated from June 19 to 22 in Singapore. Fresh off a silver medal finish in secondary basketball in the 2025, Barcelona will step into another momentous milestone in his young career. 'Playing for Palarong Pambansa 2025 representing Region 6 was a very significant experience for me. And now, to be able to be chosen to represent once more in a very prestigious sporting event is another significant milestone and I'm truly honored and grateful for this big opportunity,' Barcelona told GMA Regional TV News. 'This will surely enhance and develop my skills in the game and will create a wider chance for me to grow my love for basketball,' he added. The BWB camp is an NBA and FIBA's global basketball development and community outreach program where campers will take part in life-skills, leadership development and social responsibility programming. Campers will have an opportunity to learn directly from current and former FIBA, NBA, and WNBA players and coaches. Among them are 2024 NBA champion Derrick White of the Boston Celtics and 2024 NBA All-Star Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers. 'I hope that I can make my school Bacolod Taytung High School, my hometown Negros Occidental, and my country Philippines proud,' he remarked. In 2018, Zamboangueño Forthsky Padrigao won the MVP honors during the 10th edition of the camp. Barcelona is no stranger to international camps. Back in 2022, he alongside three other Filipinos, were selected to take part in the Jr. NBA Asia in Tokyo, Japan. The 6-foot-1 athlete was exposed to basketball at a young age through the influence of his father, Pete. 'It has been my first toy as a baby and a toddler, and growing up I saw my father enjoying watching basketball on television and eventually, he started to bring me to basketball courts for training with him and then it continued as I started with kinder school where I began basketball clinics at age 5,' Barcelona said. Barcelona shared that he patterned his game after that of his idol, Escalante native and basketball star James Yap. 'I really like the way he moves on the court. He makes the games look easier because his moves are simple yet effective,' he noted about the former national team player. On the other hand, being surrounded by household name coaches in Bacolod City in Ryan Hugnatan, Nico Lopingco, and Atoy Callora kept him grounded and helped him grow as a player on and off the court. 'My biggest dream in life is to achieve a combination of being a successful basketball player and at the same time achieve academic success,' Barcelona said. 'My love and passion for basketball has provided a huge positive impact on my personal development, and hopefully with God's help, I will be able to balance both of my dreams to make it a reality,' he added.
