UPDATE (7:55 p.m. ET): A Sacramento Kings spokesperson passed on a team statement on the Matt Barnes/DeMarcus Cousins incident, telling NESN.com, “We have clear standards of conduct and behavior expected of the entire Kings organization — on and off the court. We are working with all parties involved to gather information in order to take any appropriate next steps.”
Original story (12:45 p.m. ET): DeMarcus Cousins’ trade value probably just took a hit, but the internet is now getting an inside look at why so many NBA teams are hesitant to trade for him.
The Sacramento Kings’ All-NBA center was involved in an altercation that included teammate Matt Barnes while the two were out at Avenue Nightclub in New York following Sacramento’s loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday at Madison Square Garden, TMZ Sports reported.
The entertainment and gossip site obtained video of Cousins and Barnes outside the club, in which Cousins braggadociously complains about his hand being sore because he claims he punched someone who was choking Barnes. Cousins is seen rubbing and holding his right hand in the video.
Additionally, TMZ reports that New York police are “investigating and looking for” Barnes, investigating claims Barnes choked a woman at the club early Monday morning.
“Law enforcement sources tell us cops got a 911 call to Avenue Nightclub after midnight, reporting a man assaulting  two women and another man,” TMZ reported Monday. “We’re told things got physical when Barnes allegedly choked one woman during an argument — and when 2 other people tried to intervene … he punched both of them.”
The specifics of Cousins’ involvement are unknown aside from what he can be heard saying in the video.
In a new TMZ report, however, Barnes swears his innocence with a completely different account of the events. He claims he was attacked and any violent actions came in self-defense. His attorney told TMZ, “We do not believe a crime was committed and are hopeful no charges will be pressed.” Cousins reportedly came to Barnes’ defense, too.
Barnes has been involved in violent incidents in the past, most notably last year when he confronted then-New York Knicks coach Derek Fisher, who was dating Barnes’ estranged wife, Gloria Govan. He also previously faced domestic violence charges that were later dropped, as SB Nation points out.
Fair or not, the incident doesn’t paint a very good picture of either player and won’t unless Barnes’ side of the story plays out and turns out to be true.
Thumbnail photo via Sergio Estrada/USA TODAY Sports Images
