DeMarcus Cousins flips out

[Roy H.]

Kings rookie forward DeMarcus Cousins was removed from team plane bound for Phoenix after an altercation with teammate Donte Greene, according to two sources close to the organization.

The incident, which was first reported by FanHouse, immediately followed a loss to Oklahoma City on Saturday night. Cousins, who had overcome early-season struggles of the performance and personality variety recently, is expected to be suspended for at least one game. Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie did not immediately return a call for comment.

According to the sources, Cousins (whose postgame interview can be seen here) was furious at the last play in which Tyreke Evans missed a three-pointer in the final seconds of regulation that would have won the game. Cousins, who had been calling for the ball in the post in the final possession, watched angrily as Greene inbounded the ball to Evans for the final shot.

After the buzzer, he ran the length of the court to catch up to Evans and Greene and was letting his opinions be known as he blew by them to enter the locker room. According to the sources, Greene and Cousins began exchanging words inside the locker room. The situation then escalated, with both players taking swings at each other before they were separated.

Link.

The Kings should have a bright future, but I've got my doubts when the two centerpieces are Evans and Cousins.  Neither seem particularly mature, and I don't think anybody in Sacramento can reign them in.

[moiso]

Yeah, it's too bad for the Kings that both of them seem like headcases.  It's going to be hard for them to get the right culture.  It already looks like Evans would rather be the classic big numbers on a bad team guy.

[wdleehi]

That team needs a team leader in the worst way.

[pearljammer10]

They need a team leader but Im not sure who would be up for that job. I dont think many big players are going to be up for taking that role.

[Overrated]

I'm looking at the highlights and during the final play Cousins isn't the best option. He had his hand up for maybe half a second but he wasn't really open. Can't see why he was so upset...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aoiQMjakKQ

[billysan]

This is a result of poor player evaluation prior to the draft and an obvious lack of a good roster building plan. No natural or strong player leadership was built in and the coaching staff isnt getting it done either.

There is further evidence of this with the Carl Landry situation. He has been publicly displeased and knows he is basically trade bait. The Kings locker room has to be a real fun place to be now.

If I were Petrie, I would quickly make a trade to split these two up and bring in a higher character player or two. A respected veteran(s) if possible as well. I think both these guys Cousins/Evans are highly competitive but lack maturity. If they dont start getting the right kind of leadership it will be detrimental to the Kings and their individual careers.

[shookones99]

Aside from the crazy 110 mph driving has Evans done anything else to earn the reputation of immature?

I would never have thought to put him and Cousins in the same category of immaturity.   Maybe Cousin's and Donte Greene...

[snowball]

Kings are in sore need of veterans.
that being said, Cousins should have
been the target in that play.. he wants
respect from his teammates. Like Doc says,
you gotz to TRUST each other.

[Master Po]

Hey Roy ....he is on your fantasy team....I dropped him too early and you might have held on too long

[FatjohnReturns]

Cousins is a headcase. Eddie Curry also looked promising his first few years.

[the_Bird]

Evans is a pretty bad 3-point shooter (28% this year), but they were playing off him, giving him a pretty open look at a straightaway 3.

Cousins wasn't open at all.  There wasn't really a lot of time for him to make any kind of move in the post, if he got the ball it was going to be some kind of contested shot.  As noted, he only half-heartedly put up his hand for the ball, the Thunder defender was right on him.

[bruinsandceltics]

Just confirms my suspicions that he is the most immature player in the league.

[The Walker Wiggle]

Just confirms my suspicions that he is the most immature player in the league.

Eh. Certainly not worse than T.A. and O.J. Mayo's fight over a gambling debt. I'd rather players were fighting over a tough loss.

Ziller has some interesting takes (via SB Nation sister blog Sactown Royalty):

On the one hand: don't blow up your teammates right after a tough loss, especially without hearing why you didn't get the ball. On review, Greene would have had a tough angle getting the ball to Cousins precisely because Durant was denying the ball to the post, and because Collison was seriously contesting the entry. Greene looked to Cousins, and couldn't do it. I'm sure Greene could have explained that, if given the opportunity. I'm sure at some point Cousins -- other issues aside -- will realize that the play wasn't as easy as he thought it was.

I'm not going to question the team's decision to suspend Cousins, or even pull him off the plane. I will say, though, that if Francisco Garcia was vehemently disagreeing with the decision, as Amick reports? I ride with El Flaco. I appreciate a fast and stern reaction from the franchise ... but Garcia is the team leader, and one of Evans' closest teammates. If he wanted Cousins to stay with the team and work it out? I'd listen. It isn't like Garcia is just Cousins' dude or whatever. If this was a proxy battle between Boogie and 'Reke, it says something that one of 'Reke's dudes wanted Cousins on the plane.

Would you rather a prominent King call out Evans' uncreative and regularly unsuccessful crunch time plays now, or in 2-3 years when a playoff spot is in the balance?

[Donoghus]

Cousins is certainly starting to fulfill some of the expectations people had about him before the draft (not a good thing).

[footey]

this begs the proverbial question: what would it take to get Cousins? Would you trade Perk straight up?