The Los Angeles Lakers signed DeMarcus Cousins in July as a part of their offseason makeover, but just over a month after signing with the club, Cousins tore his ACL in an offseason workout, likely knocking him out for the 2019-20 campaign.
Then, shortly after his injury, a video leaked on TMZ that appeared to have audio from Cousins allegedly threatening to kill his girlfriend, telling her: “I'm gonna make sure I put a bullet in your (expletive) head.”
An arrest warrant was issued for Cousins in late August.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka commented on Cousins' allegations at media day on Friday, saying the following:
“The Lakers as an organization take allegations of domestic violence very seriously. That being said, the league takes over the investigation,” said Pelinka, via ClutchPoints.
Cousins spent the 2018-19 campaign with the Golden State Warriors, playing in just 30 games due to his recovery from the torn Achilles he suffered while with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2017-18.
He averaged 16.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals over 25.7 minutes per game while shooting 48.0 percent from the floor, 27.4 percent from 3-point range and 73.6 percent from the free-throw line.
The four-time All-Star spent the first six and a half years of his career with the Sacramento Kings before being dealt to the Pelicans midway through the 2016-17 season.
Cousins, who played his collegiate basketball at the University of Kentucky, owns career averages of 21.2 points, 10.9 boards, 3.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocks across 32.0 minutes a night while making 46.1 percent of his field goal attempts, 33.2 percent of his long-distance tries and 73.7 percent of his foul shots.