Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins crossed a line last week when he started shouting at a Sacramento Bee reporter who had written some not-so-flattering things about his brother. The Kings fined Cousins $50,000 for the incident, and Cousins released the following statement Tuesday afternoon:
“There is a time, place, and manner to say everything, and I chose the wrong ones. Like most people, I am fiercely protective of my friends and family, and I let my emotions get the best of me in this situation. I understand my actions were inexcusable and I commit to upholding the professional standards of the Kings and the NBA. I apologize to my teammates, fans and the Kings organization for my behavior and the ensuing distraction and look forward to moving on and focusing on basketball.”
My favorite thing about this statement: Cousins used the word “inexcusable” and owned up to his mistakes. His behavior was inexcusable, and if he repeats his actions, greater consequences will be in store.
My least favorite thing about this statement: Cousins didn’t actually apologize to the reporter. This is a man who, by the looks of him, is no taller than five-foot-eight. Having a six-foot-eleven, 270-pound behemoth looking down at him and angrily yelling in his face in a very threatening manner had to have been a traumatic experience. This man — the reporter, that is — is paid to be around the Kings. That’s his profession. The Kings’ best and most reported-on player is DeMarcus Cousins. So, this man will have to spend a majority of his time around Cousins. And Cousins, while he did express regret for his actions, apologized to everybody (“teammates, fans and the Kings organization”) except the media. That seems like an odd decision by Cousins, and I’m a bit perplexed by it.
