DeMarcus Cousins blames George Karl for his suspension

[Andrew]

It just keeps going: DeMarcus Cousins blames George Karl for his suspension

Sacramento Kings general manager Vlade Divac said in a statement last Thursday that he was suspending center DeMarcus Cousins one game for conduct detrimental to the team. But in his first comments since being sidelined, Cousins said he believes coach George Karl actually made the call.

"That wasn't a suspension from the organization," Cousins said after the Kings' 108-99 loss to the Utah Jazz on Sunday. "That was one from the head coach. There's a difference."

When told of Cousins' view of the suspension, Divac told Yahoo Sports with a huge grin: "I love DeMarcus Cousins. That is my only comment."

It's no secret Cousins and Karl aren't the best of friends.

Karl drew Cousins' ire after Karl said during the offseason that the two-time All-Star could be traded. Cousins also loudly voiced his displeasure in the locker room after a 106-88 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Nov. 9. The longtime NBA head coach took that incident hard, a source close to him said.

Cousins has often voiced his displeasure with Karl to the media this season. There were reports that Karl could be fired during the NBA All-Star break, but he is expected to coach the rest of this season. Sources close to Cousins told Yahoo Sports there is a belief that Karl has pushed several times for the Kings' star player to be suspended.

And so, the dysfunction continues. Not to say Karl is completely blameless, but Divac's professionalism leaves something to be desired.

As for Cousins, whatever legitimate gripes he may have with Karl, it seems he's never going to grow up and truly "get it". He's a great talent, but it's looking like he might be too hot-headed and difficult to be a reliable franchise player. Not that some of the all-time great players couldn't be extremely difficult, with volatile or abrasive aspects of their personalities, but they were usually able to channel it in a way that drove them to success. With Cousins, it seems to be a pouty distraction. As long as Divac coddles him and lets him get away with being a brat, that's not going to change.

[Patr1ck]

Only two ways to look at it. Cousins is correct and Karl made the suspension happen, or he is just using Karl as a scapegoat and not taking responsibility for whatever his detrimental conduct was.

[PeacemanNOT]

When the grass is cut, the snakes will show.

[Kevin]

if you look at it any other way, he's just digging his own grave here. deeper and deeper as the season progesseaseas.

[Andrew]

The thing is, Cousins has clashed with multiple coaches since entering the league. To paraphrase a popular saying: you run into a jerk in the morning, they're the jerk; you run into jerks all day, you're the jerk. It's a pithy saying that's an oversimplification in some respects, but there's truth to it. If you're the common party in a string of problems or arguments, then maybe you're the problem.

[NovU]

First of all Cousins should learn about his place better. Players like LBJ, Jordan & Wade in prime, common denominator for all these guys is that they earned their rights in the way Cousins never did, by playing great basketball and winning fans and management over. Cousins hasn't yet to proved himself to be a winner yet his whining is becoming too much to bare. He IS uncoachable.

[PeacemanNOT]

Pop would sort him out.

#Boogie2Spurs2017

[Andrew]

You know, I don't know that Popovich could necessarily sort him out. Some people just never "get it", or grow out of bad habits.

[PeacemanNOT]

Watch this arm swing

phpBB [video]

You have to give him some credit, he's recently kept his cool on the court. What's happening off the court doesn't sound so pretty.

[Andrew]

Had he followed through on that, there'd have been a suspension that he couldn't blame George Karl for. A bit of cheapness from Adams, though.

[bowdown]

Doesn't look like Cousins ever had a decent male authority figure in his life.

[Corymach7]

Divac should let George Karl retire or fire him after this season and have these coaches be his top 5 choices for replacement (1 being the top and 5 being the bottom):

1. John Calipari
2. Luke Walton
3. Zeljko Obradovic
4. Juwan Howard
5. Mike D'Antoni

I would lose all respect for Sacramento if they trade Cousins.