DeMarcus Cousins suspended for confrontation with Spurs announcer Sean Elliott
In one of the weirder stories we've ever seen related to announcers, Kings center DeMarcus Cousins has been suspended two games by the NBA for a confrontation with Spurs analyst and former player Sean Elliott. It all happened after the Spurs beat the Kings 97-86 Friday night. During the 4th Quarter, Cousins apparently dared to talk some trash to Tim Duncan. Elliott saw this in the booth and gave the combustible Cousins a lecture. Somehow, Cousins caught wind of Elliott's criticism and went to confront him after he wrapped up the broadcast. Here's how Mike Monroe of MySanAntonio.com explained the entire sequence...
After overpowering Duncan for two baskets and drawing a shooting foul on the Spurs star with about five minutes left, Cousins bellowed to his teammates on the Kings’ bench after drawing a shooting foul on the future Hall of Famer.
Elliott paraphrased Cousins as saying, “I’m going to bust his (expletive).”
Elliott responded after Duncan blocked a Cousins shot at the rim and scored three baskets.
“That’s why some humility is in order,” Elliott said on the air. “You think you’re dominating Tim Duncan, you get it stuffed right back in your face. Timmy doesn’t like to talk trash. But if guys start talking mess to him, he’s going to respond. All that trash talking was premature. I’m not about to let these guys off the hook. Young ballclub should learn from this. Don’t start talking and flapping your gums against one of the greatest players ever. He’s going to make you pay. Tell me who got the best of this exchange.”
Apparently informed postgame of Elliott’s remarks, Cousins appeared on the court in his uniform and confronted Elliott after he and broadcaster Bill Land completed their postgame show.
“I was wondering why Cousins was out there in his uniform waiting for them to finish his postgame show,” said Bill Schoening, who does the play-by-play call on radio broadcasts of Spurs games. “Then I saw them in an animated conversation out on the court.
“I observed Sean walk away from Cousins and Cousins continue to talk to Sean as he left the scene, but I couldn’t hear what was being said.”
After the game, Cousins spoke about Elliott and called the Spurs broadcaster immature for his comments with video from Cowbell Kingdom...
Nobody has really said what exactly happened when Cousins met Elliott on the floor after the game and the extent of their confrontation. The NBA has said Cousins was suspended two games for confronting Elliott in a "hostile manner." Elliott hasn't commented. Keep in mind Kings rookie Thomas Robinson got suspended a pair of games for almost elbowing Jonas Jerebko's head off his body. A two game suspension for a verbal altercation with an announcer seems extreme knowing what little we do of the events that transpired. One has to wonder how much DeMarcus Cousins' reputation as a loose cannon plays into this suspension.
As for the unique, perhaps extreme step of a player arguing with an announcer after the game because of something he said during a game? That's not a precedent that needs to be set in any league, so from that perspective, I understand the league's need to discipline Cousins. It's not cool to come back out on the floor in uniform thirty minutes after the game to argue with an announcer. The league doesn't want Dwight Howard coming out of the locker room to have a run at Jeff Van Gundy or Hubie Brown.
However, in this case, I somewhat sympathize with Cousins. The former Kentucky star has developed a rep as a crazy person who could go unhinged. But, when you look at his body of work, the criticism of Cousins goes beyond what has actually occurred in his career. As Eric Freeman at Ball Don't Lie writes, "Overreacting to every minor incident simply reinforces the prevailing narrative of his career and dooms Cousins to being called immature until well after he retires." Had it been a random member of the Kings roster that did the same thing, I doubt there would be a suspension, but perhaps a fine.
And in this case, Sean Elliott overstepped with sanctimonious commentary towards Cousins. I'm trying to think of a nice way to say this... Sean Elliott may be the single most insufferable homer sitting in an NBA broadcast booth. If you aren't a Spurs fan, or even if you're a level-headed Spurs fan, it is a brutal experience to try and sit down and watch a Spurs broadcast. Brutal. Had the roles been reversed on the court, Elliott would have been showering Duncan with endless praise for getting inside Cousins' head. He's more partial to the Spurs than Skip Bayless is to Tim Tebow. Elliott feels it's his prerogative to not let Cousins off the hook for daring to talk a little smack or try to teach him some sort of lesson from the broadcast booth? Please.
In the end, who wins in this story? The NBA appears heavy-handed for harshly suspending Cousins for multiple games, Cousins doesn't look good for confronting an announcer after the game, and Elliott doesn't look good as a massive homer. Maybe it's fitting that a story this bizarre is a lose-lose-lose situation for everyone involved.
(H/T Ball Don't Lie, Spurs Nation)
what the hell are you talking about? sean elliot is a great announcer and person, spurs fans love his commentary. and he wasnt trying to "lecture" cousins, none of his comments were meant for him, he was just saying for young players to learn from it. cousins smack talk changed the game, as soon as he started to talk to timmy, he went off and controlled the game on both ends... this is the stupidest article ive read ina while
I subscribe to XM radio so I can lissten to NBA games while traveling. Heat radio is the worst. I have to change the channel, they are such homers.
....kudos, Ryan....great post....I've seen 100's of FSSW games and I have heard Sean dish out way more compliments to young players as opposed to chastising them. but I must admit, to hear someone with Cousins' maturity level call Anyone else immature is indeed LOL funny. And in Sean's case.... anyone who comes back to a pro sport after having the surgery he had will always qualify as at least..... mature. On the other hand, I really hope he--Cousins-- gets his act together as he will be a force when --and if -- that happens.
Let me say this: the majority of people who sit down to watch a local Fox Sports Southwest or MY35 broadcast of a Spurs game are exactly that. They're locals. They tune in because, yes they love the Spurs, but they have come to appreciate the sense of insight, humor, and occasionally anecdotal tales from his own time as a former Spur himself that Sean brings to local broadcasts. The fact he hit one of the most important shots in Spurs history helps as well, and he still does a lot of volunteer and charity work in the city as well.
Does this piss non-Spurs fans off? I'm sure it does. I understand why a Laker fan in San Antonio for instance or someone watching the Spurs local broadcast from outside the SA area who is not a Spurs fan might be upset at Sean for his heavy Spurs bias. But one cannot deny that it obviously works for the majority of the local audience in that Spurs broadcasts are always in the top of the local TV rankings. As a Spurs fan, I personally love it. A lot of other San Antonians do as well. So not only is his commentary fun for Spurs fans, it works for the ratings.
Now my thoughts on Cousins. I watched the game. Cousins was clearly frustrated throughout the game, throwing a tizzy fit at most nearly every call, no matter how hard or slight. Sent to the bench because of foul trouble, his body language on the sideline was awful. Smacking the floor with his towel, angrily grabbing for gatorade, and it truly seemed acidic to the rest of the Kings, at least psychologically. I understand basketball is an emotional game, but the best players (and the best team leaders) in the NBA seem to have the mental strength to push through adversity, or as they say, not get to high on the highs or low on the lows. Cousins however was all over the emotional map.
In the broader context of Sean Elliot's body of color commentary work, one of the things he will stress at least once every two or three games, especially when Timmy is having a kick butt big numbers night, is the way he hides his emotions with that emotionless midgame face of his, instead giving voice and expressing his feelings through his game. Thus, I believe those unfamiliar or not frequent viewers of Elliot's broadcast may be blowing his comments just a bit out of proportion. Elliot was not so much insulting Cousins as he was instead conveying, yet again, the manner in which Tim expresses his emotions, whatever they were, by surgically taking Cousins to town offensively and emphatically blocking a shot of his on defense.
Lastly, the fact that Cousins got so worked up about Elliot's comments I believe further speaks to the immaturity he showed throughout the game that was talked about in the broadcast. It was painfully obvious, and I am sure Kings fans themselves would agree.
Now on the other hand, the Spurs could careless about what journalists say about them. Thankfully, our front office has a knack for hiring mature players who approach the game with a professional winning attitude. If they're attitude suggests otherwise, they're quickly shown the door (ie: Dennis Rodman).
To further elaborate: Do you think Tiago Splitter is waiting outside ESPN to mug Stephen A. Smith for laughing at him constantly? Do you think David Robinson walked into newspaper offices across the country during the 90s to call out journalists who called him soft? Do you think Tim Duncan cares if you think his championship in 1999 should have an asterik by it? No. They have the self confidence and maturity to care less, unlike, a certain, as Sean Elliot said, "petulant child" on the Sacramento Kings.
If you don't want someone who pulls for your team in 'the booth' --which I guess means courtside-- just hire a bunch of college grads and get on with it......THEY ALL --home team announcers that is--- are homers....you 'sanctimonious' idiot--oooo, big word. Cousins is a PUNK that refuses to learn, and you are gonna back him up as he trash talks someone who know how to spell 'humble' and is a future HOFer..... with NOTHING to show for 'his' body of work to talk trash to Anyone....... what a joke, ----Cousins and this lame a** article writer?.....PS: Cousins will NEVER score as many points in this league as Sean, let alone Tim........and BTW... why is someone "Listening" to the 'other' teams broadcasters....are yours THAT bad!!!! The Spurs hear cr*p every year from jealous fans of other teams(losing) ..... AND NOW it is the broadcasters!!!! LOL.....LOL go do something else!! And here is for you Nate A**CLOWN hug your own heart..... How does it feel to back a losing organization....from the jokeowners to the overrated players....oh I can tell how it feels....you knock organizations that KNOW how to win.... enjoy your next worthless season.....Oh you of NO respect for the NBA.... get a life....please!!
Came here just to say Sean Elliott isn't as bad as Tommy Heinsohn, but Nate beat me to it (sort of).
I hope people don't' take this the wrong way. I'm a Kings fan, I hate Sean Elliott, and I respect the Spurs organization (even despite Elliott's presence as the worst analyst in the NBA--Tommy Heinsohn doesn't count because can you count drunk blubberish actual analysis?) no less at that.
What Cousins did was wrong. If it had been up to me, I'd suspend him for at least 20 games, and that's just mainly because I'm tired of Cousins histrionics and overall aggrandization of his worth and value to the world. Cousins isn't worth jack diddly shit if he wasn't 6'11.
Sean Elliott is an assclown. That has been acknowledged. I don't care how Spurs fans see him. I know lots of people don't care for the Kings broadcast crew (I understand; I don't personally agree but I get it), but there are plenty of acquired tastes out there which is where I think Napear/Reynolds qualify. Sean Elliott is an assclown. I really don't care for all his lame ass self aggrandizement either. (Which makes Cousins and Elliott a match made in heaven ironically.) Like I said, I hate Sean Elliott the analyst for Spurs TV. The man? Don't care. I don't have to deal with him so it doesn't matter. And yes, I find Bill Land annoying. I just do. They make Spurs games less enjoyable for me, and I find that maddening.
The Kings organization is just beyond terrible. The Maloofs? If I have to explain how exactly terrible those fucktards are, well, yeah. They're awful. It's pretty much an universal opinion to anyone with any semblance to real NBA knowledge.
Geoff Petrie should have been fired with what happened to Paul Westphal.
With all the rotten things swirling around Cousins, Cousins should have been suspended for longer with far graver circumstances. And I find it beyond acceptance that the players union is appealing Cousins' suspension. It's just that Cousins noted deficiencies are so well chronicled it isn't funny,. And that's just on the court. That's not noting the pissing contest Cousins got into with Westphal in the year and half Cousins had to deal with Westphal. That doesn't include getting into a fight with Donte Greene in the locker room after a game. That doesn't include the strange "we are not playing DeMarcus Cousins today because he demanded a trade" that happened during New Years 2012 with Paul Westphal days before Westphal got the ax.
DeMarcus Cousins is an exceptionally immature punk who needs to grow up yesterday. The Kings are going to be left in the wake (understandably so; nothing Cousins done has been out of what could be expected from him and the Kings either ignored or it or were in such a bad place they had no choice--take your pick) from Cousins behaviorial issues that are being excerbated by a terrible culture and organization. The only real part of the organization basketball wise is the coaching staff, and you won't find many people wanting to write poems about Keith Smart's coaching stint to date.
DeMarcus Cousins should have been suspended for 10 games, and that's just the maddening reality of it. 2 games wasn't enough. It wasn't even beginning to remotely resemble close enough. DeMarcus Cousins should have gotten run through the ringer and then some just based on his reputation alone. Two games was getting off easy, and as it is the Players Union might successfully appeal it to get the suspension down to one.
This whole situation is just disgusting. And no-one is at more fault for any of it than DeMarcus Cousins himself. Shame on you kid. Grow up already for chrissake.
Right now I'm just hoping this stops any "max contract extension in the off-season" momentum that was definitely building this last off-season. That is the only possible silver lining out of all this.
Man even in this, the Spurs don't get love. I am a huge spurs fan. I can admit when the spurs are wrong in situations. I know that team more than any nba announcer. I think you're misconstruing what Sean was saying. He wasn't saying, "How dare DeMarcus Cousins talk trash?" It was more learn from this, because if you talk trash to good players, they will respond. Leave the immaturity at home and focus more on yourself and your game. Now notice even you, Matt, in the title you called him a "Spurs announcer." What else do you expect? You can call that awful announcing if you want and probably be right. But most spurs fans agree that they'd rather sean elliot and bill land call the game than reggie miller or jeff van gundy (national tv ratings aside). The halftime show is a different story. The reason being is if the game isn't broadcasted nationally, why worry about homerism? It's meant for the spurs crowd. I would rather be like "Yeah! OKC DID get all the calls!" than "WTF?! Ibaka can just goal tend whenever he wants and the NBA says nothing?!" I think homerism should't be considered bad because in an NBA where superstars get all the praise the small "unimportant" teams never get any breaks. Sure it might just be in our heads, but it gives us hope that the NBA isn't rigged. If I were in LA and heard their local broadcaster favoring the Clippers or the Lakers I wouldn't be surprised or think it was "awful" broadcasting. I would probably disagree, but I would understand and wouldn't expect more. Also, let it be noted that Sean Elliot does focus mostly on the Spurs, but it's not all praise. He constantly brings up that the Spurs haven't played 4 quarters in a very long time. Or how they aren't getting good offensive rebounds, or that they have too many turnovers. But! let's think about this. Sean Elliot in his career and broadcasting career is overall just a better person. He was never immature and is constantly giving back to the community.
Now DeMarcus Cousins. Yes he's talented and immature. That's what everyone knows. Now by your story, you're implying that he got a bad break because of his reputation and that that's bad. I disagree. If you have a bad reputation especially for doing things like what he just did all the time, then you should get a bigger suspension. It's called repeat offenders. You might say that that wasn't as bad as an elbow, and physically you're right. But the NBA doesn't want to represent itself as a league of thugs and shouldn't tolerate things like that. An elbow to the head, can look just as bad as stalking an old broadcaster to confront him like if they were trying to prove something. Sean wasn't even in the game, and I'm sure Cousins was wanting to settle that in a more physical manner than just talking. Whether it be a game of one on one or fighting. I mean the dude was like waiting for him. If he really just wanted to give him a piece of his mind, twitter or an after game interview would have done fine. The dude is obviously talented, but the league does need to let him and ALL hot heads (stephen jackson included), know that stuff like that isn't allowed. Under the right coaching he could be good, but he's too immature and shouldn't be left off the hook because he's good.
To end briefly, homerism might look bad, but trying to start a fight with a dude 20 years older than you is WAY worse. You're saying "God forbid someone talk trash to Tim Duncan." I'm saying "God forbid Sean gave criticism and roots for the Team that has payed him for YEARS." There is no saving grace for DeMarcus Cousins in this. Broadcasters are gonna ridicule you, deal with it. 1 game suspension would have sufficed, but I think we're in agreement that the league wants none of this happening again. Trying to blame both sides for this is stupid and you're trying to make a more controversial story than it is. Again, TERRIBLE writing, and plagiarizing a yahoo article. NICE.
"Sean Elliott may be the single most insufferable homer sitting in an NBA broadcast booth" Apparently, you have never watched an entire Celtics game with Tommy Heinsohn on CSNNE. And I am a huge Celtics fan from back in the '80s.
Cousins is a loose cannon and was during his stint at UK. He could be a great player if he could only settle down a bit. Having said that, the commentator was out of line.
