NEW YORK _ DeMarcus Cousins has yet to play in an NBA game with the Warriors, yet coach Steve Kerr has already had an issue with his behavior.
Kerr said he offered a stern message to Cousins on Saturday about his ejection from the bench during Friday's game against the Knicks.
" 'Don't do that again,' " Kerr recalled saying before Sunday's game against Brooklyn.
Official Scott Foster ejected Cousins during a timeout in the first quarter of the Warriors-Knicks game on Friday. Foster told a pool reporter afterwards that Cousins ignored warnings about talking trash from the sideline to Knicks forward Enes Kanter. Afterwards, Cousins sounded dumbfounded to a handful of reporters about the incident.
But on Saturday, Kerr said that Cousins "apologized" to him about his behavior.
"He understands that he has a different role, a different team, a different situation. So, he's got to move forward in his career, and he knows that," Kerr said. "That kind of stuff is not going to help us win a championship. It's not going to help his reputation."
Cousins has cemented himself as a four-time All-Star with stints in Sacramento (2010-2017) and New Orleans (2017-18), but he had become prone toward collecting technicals and ejections because of his emotional outbursts.
Since the Warriors acquired Cousins at their taxpayer midlevel exception worth $5.1 million, they have praised Cousins for two things. They remain encouraged with his ongoing rehab with his injured left Achilles tendon that lately involves practicing with the team in non-contact drills. They also have praised Cousins for mentoring the team's young frontcourt in Damian Jones, Kevon Looney and Jordan Bell.
Kerr struck a different tone, however, regarding Cousins collecting a technical and an ejection before he has even played a game.
"He understands that, and I think he immediately regretted what happened," Kerr said. "I really appreciate him coming to me and making that pretty clear."
