Though New Orleans Pelicans center DeMarcus Cousins is arguably the most talented big in the entire NBA, the veteran has persevered through his fair share of adversity in his first 7 seasons as a pro. The immense passion Cousins has for the game frequently got him into trouble during his first few seasons, as he often let his emotions get the best of him on the court.
Though Cousins has vastly improved at controlling his temper as he has matured, the Kentucky product has still led the league in technicals the past two seasons, a theme that is remaining true early on this year as well. In the first 29 games of the season, DeMarcus Cousins has already racked up a league-leading 9 technical fouls.
Boogie recently sat down with Uninterrupted’s Marc Spears to discuss how he thinks he’s still being targeted due to his past, even though he has been much improved at keeping his emotions in check:
“Even calls I know I should be arguing, I’m letting go. And they’re still like … it’s a one-sided thing. Everything is changing from one end. But with them, it’s like, ‘We are not letting go of the past. You are who you are. You’re getting a tech.'”
“Now it’s to the point where teams are saying, ‘Yeah, just go over there and beat the s— out of him.’ I don’t get calls, and I’m not protected like other players are… In previous seasons, I got a tech for playing after the whistle is over. Now it doesn’t matter because it’s me.”
Cousins provided an example of the targeting he is subject to on an almost nightly basis. The 3-time All-Star claimed he recently got a tech for simply telling the ref he made a ‘good call’:
“I got a tech for saying, ‘Good job, referee’, I said, ‘Good job. Good call.’ And I got a tech? I swear to God on my kids. I have yet to have a moment where I just erupt or go off [this season]. I haven’t had one of those, but for some reason I’m still leading the league in techs.”
“So, when it comes to me getting a tech for saying, ‘Good call, referee …,’ vets and coaches tell me to butter them up. Switch it up a little bit. Do a little reverse psychology. Tell them it’s a good call. And you still getting a tech for it? They’re not trying to make it work. They’re stuck in their ways, and it is so obvious.”
Though some may still think DeMarcus Cousins has room for improvement, there is no doubt the center is on to something here. His past reputation should remain in the past, especially when he’s worked diligently at mentally bettering himself.
Out of the 9 technicals Boogie has been charged with this season, 2 of them have been rescinded by the league office. With the Pelicans clearly a team on the rise in the Western Conference, the target on Cousins’ back may only get bigger, unfortunately.
