Cousins unfollowed Pelicans to avoid seeing negative headlines
DeMarcus Cousins is aiming to be fully healed for training camp. But it's unclear which training camp since he's set to become an unrestricted free agent.
Cousins led some to believe the 2017-18 season would be his last in New Orleans when he unfollowed the Pelicans on Instagram. But the All-Star center insists the decision had nothing to do with his upcoming free agency.
"The reason I unfollowed them was, one, I was scrolling down my timeline and I saw a Pelicans fan page so I followed the fan page and the picture that popped up read, 'Should the Pelicans re-sign or let Demarcus Cousins go?'" Cousins explained to The Undefeated's Marc J. Spears. "So I was like I'm just going to unfollow this s--- so I won't have to see it. In my mind, that's all I'm thinking.
"So I unfollowed it and I started noticing people asking, 'Why did you unfollow the Pelicans?' I was like, 'How do people know I unfollowed the Pelicans?' I ain’t even know that was possible. I didn't even know you could know if somebody unfollowed somebody. So you know my response, well, it was like a little kid: Well, 'cause I'm grown. I do what I want, I'm grown.'"
As for his free-agency decision, Cousins said he wants to go "somewhere I'd be appreciated" and to a team that's "ready to contend."
The Pelicans appear to check off at least the first of those boxes. Cousins felt embraced in New Orleans, particularly when he sat on the bench for Game 3 of the team's first-round sweep over the Portland Trail Blazers, and had his name chanted by the home fans. He certainly seems open to re-signing.
"The city of New Orleans is super dope," he said. "The Southern hospitality is through the roof. Only a Southerner would really know what that Southern hospitality is like. It's genuine love down there. They are crazy about their sports teams, the Pelicans and the Saints. Whenever I was out and about I was always shown love.
"It felt good when I was able to come back and hear the thousands of fans in there chanting my name. It sent chills through my body, but that was a great moment for me, it made me feel special. I appreciated the time I did have there, if it is the end. But if it's not, I can't wait to be back around."