Joerger: Cousins growing as a leader, technical threshold 'a good challenge'

DeMarcus Cousins is among the NBA leaders in technical fouls each season, but never has he racked them up at the prolific rate he has so far in 2016-17.

The Sacramento Kings center crossed the 16-technical threshold Monday, earning an automatic one-game suspension in just his 51st game of the season. That's the earliest any player's been suspended since the league instituted a technical limit before the 2005-06 season.

Now, not only will Cousins have to sit out Wednesday against the Boston Celtics, he'll be subject to additional suspensions for every two additional techs he accrues.

Kings head coach Dave Joerger, however, feels the threat of further punishment may actually be healthy for Cousins, and possibly help him keep his emotions in check.

"There's a lot more bite to it now, for every two," Joerger told reporters Monday, according to CSN's James Ham. "It's a good challenge."

Apart from the on-court outbursts that have cost him - and, likely, his team - an important game in their chase for the Western Conference's eighth playoff seed, Joerger says Cousins has been a positive presence and an improving leader this season.

"The way he goes about his business, and how he's been very positive with his teammates when we're having tough times and pushing them when we're having good times," Joerger said. "You just see the leadership growing in him."

Cousins has also let his play do a lot of the talking, averaging career highs in points (27.9 points) and assists (4.7), to go along with 10.7 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 1.4 blocks, and a 36.6-percent mark from 3-point range.