Cousins’ suspension appeal denied by NBA
by Sam Amick, USA TODAY Sports
The NBA has denied an appeal request that would have allowed Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins to play in tonight’s game against Portland, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports.
Cousins, the big man who was drafted fifth overall out of Kentucky in 2010, was suspended two games by the NBA for, as the league’s released stated, “confronting” San Antonio commentator and former Spurs player Sean Elliott in a “hostile manner” after Friday’s game in Sacramento. He served the first game of the suspension on Sunday against the Lakers. The National Basketball Players Association is expected to issue a statement in strong disagreement with the ruling either tonight or on Wednesday morning.
During the telecast of the Spurs-Kings game, Ellliott had been critical of Cousins for trash talk that took place between him and forward Tim Duncan. Cousins, according to numerous people with knowledge of the incident who requested anonymity because of the ongoing investigation, was told of Elliott’s comments and later left the team’s locker room after the game to discuss the situation with him. While several people saw the two talking in close proximity in a quiet manner on the court before parting ways abruptly, the union has yet to find any witnesses who heard what was said and contests that it has become a case of one man’s word against another’s.
“(It was) a competitive big man battle, but some people — I want to say people who are immature — want to go on TV and make comments about it,” Cousins told news reporters after the game. “But uh, I mean trash talking is part of the game. I’ve got the utmost respect for Tim Duncan, so me trash talking (to Duncan) is not being disrespectful. I understand he’s … the greatest power forward to play this game. But for (Elliott) to go on TV and say the comment that he said, that’s immature.
“Me and Tim, we’re good. Like I said, I’ve got the utmost respect for him. But for the commentator to say the things he said, that was immature.”
Elliott, who played with … [For more on DeMarcus Cousins' suspension appeal denied by NBA, click here.]
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