DeMarcus Cousins hasn’t exactly been a model citizen since entering the NBA in 2010.
Yet perhaps because he was representing his country on the international stage, or because he has matured since his rookie season, Cousins showed some admirable restraint Thursday.
During the United States’ semifinal matchup against Lithuania in the 2014 FIBA World Cup, the Sacramento Kings center was tangled up with center Jonas Valanciunas during a free throw. Cousins wasn’t too pleased, and he displayed his anger by scaring the crap out of Valanciunas.
Cousins received a technical foul for his threatening gesture and was banished to the bench, where he used the extra free time to demonstrate why Valanciunas rankled him so.
But on the bright side, he didn’t throw a punch!
Given the 24-year-old’s history, we’ll go ahead and chalk that up as a success.
In case you were wondering how much the Americans won by, the answer is 28 points, as a 96-68 win vaulted them into the finals to play the France-Serbia winner.
Thanks to @BenGolliver for the GIF.
