DeMarcus Cousins has a fresh start now with the New Orleans Pelicans after being traded from the Sacramento Kings, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s going to tone things down.
Speaking with the press Wednesday, Cousins was asked, “How competitive are you?”
His answer had us, and the reporters in the room, laughing out loud.
Reporter: "Just how competitive are you?"
DeMarcus Cousins: "About 17 technicals worth." pic.twitter.com/BY8xuH9cJT— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) February 22, 2017
When Cousins received his 16th technical of the season on February 7, he broke a record previously set by Dwight Howard for the earliest such suspension in an NBA season.
Dwight Howard previously held the record for earliest suspension for techs, getting his 16th on March 5, 2011.
— Jason Jones (@mr_jasonjones) February 7, 2017
It’s not the kind of record one wants to hold, yet he continues to have trouble holding back his temper when things get heated on the court. He’s on thin ice the rest of the way, because for every two technical fouls he receives, it will result in an automatic one-game suspension.
Hopefully Cousins will be on his best behavior in his new surroundings, away from Sacramento — that bastion of culture and character.
The Pelicans are just 2.5 games behind the Denver Nuggets for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. They’ll need Cousins to be on the court as much as possible to climb into the postseason.