Cousins: My fundamentals got me ejected
DeMarcus Cousins still isn't buying his flagrant-2 foul.
As Cousins secured a rebound in Monday's third quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the New Orleans Pelicans center began swinging his arms around with elbows outstretched and caught Russell Westbrook's head. The point guard immediately fell to the floor, and Cousins, despite his protests, was assessed a flagrant-2 and immediately ejected.
Cousins, however, feels the call was entirely unjust, adding Tuesday he was only attempting to shield the ball the way he was taught growing up.
"It's crazy. When you start playing the game of basketball as a big man they tell you when you rebound keep your elbows high and out to protect the ball from guards from coming in and stripping you," he said after practice, per the Associated Press. "All I did was use my fundamentals and I got punished for it."
Related: Pelicans' Allen thinks Westbrook flopped after Cousins elbow
The 27-year-old big man's on-court behavior has earned him a reputation for being short-tempered. In nine seasons, Cousins has already been slapped with 112 technical fouls, leading the way to 11 career ejections.
He did, however, facetiously conceive an approach to keep his name off the NBA's naughty list this winter.
"What can I do differently? I don't know, I guess send the ref some Christmas cards ... the league, too."