DeMarcus Cousins made history on Monday, but not the kind Sacramento Kings fans probably want to brag to their friends about. The 26-year-old collected his 16th technical foul during the team’s 112-107 loss to the Chicago Bulls to become the fastest player ever to hit this mark since the 16-technical-foul rule was implemented ahead of the 2005-06 season. The previous record, according to CSN Bay Area, was held by Dwight Howard, who racked up his 16th technical on March 5, 2011.
Cousins picked up his 15th and 16th technicals against the Bulls. The first came toward the end of the third quarter when he got involved in a skirmish between teammate Taj Gibson, the Bulls’ Rajon Rondo and the referee. When Bulls assistant Jim Boylen attempted to diffuse the situation, however, Cousins got angry and delivered a shove to Boylen’s arm.
DeMarcus Cousins : 18 points & 14 rebounds in 38 minutes (Picked up his 15th technical foul this season. 1 away from a 1-game suspension) pic.twitter.com/9xnAc1qMov
— Lee Harvey (@MusikFan4Life) February 7, 2017
The 16th came with just 1.1 seconds left on the clock when Cousins, who had air-balled a three, thought he was fouled. When the official didn’t call it, however, Cousins’s emotions boiled over. He threw his arms in the air and yelled, causing the officials to deliver that dreaded 16th technical.
Kings' DeMarcus Cousins ejected w/ one second left vs. Bulls to earn 16th technical foul of season & trigger automatic one-game suspension pic.twitter.com/znUymV4SW9
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) February 7, 2017
Under the 16-technical-foul rule, which is outlined under Section 12A in the NBA rule book, Cousins will face an automatic $5,000 fine and one-game suspension. Additionally, he’ll have to pay a $4,000 fine for that 15th technical.
While Cousins will now likely sit out against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, the real danger is the threat of continuing suspensions should he be unable to control his emotions. Every technical foul accrued after the 16th will cost him an additional $5,000, and every two technicals he’ll face another one-game suspension.
With 30 games to go this season, Cousins’s suspension could prove costly to the team.
Meanwhile, it will definitely be costly to him. According to CSN, Cousins will forfeit a game check worth $154,000 every game he misses due to suspension.