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DeMarcus Cousins is an all-time fan-favorite for Kentucky basketball fans. He averaged 15.1 points and 9.8 rebounds during his single season at Kentucky, giving Big Blue Nation many memorable moments including the “call me” came and a game-tying buzzer beater. It seems like a no brainer to put him in the UK Hall of Fame.
However, as you may have heard, there is a warrant out for Cousins’ arrest for threatening to murder his ex-girlfriend. She had recorded a phone call where she had told Cousins that their son would not be attending his wedding, and he obviously did not take that well. In the recording, you can hear him say he is going to put a “bullet in [her] head.”
The warrant for his arrest is in Mobile, Alabama. However, he has been unable to travel and turn himself in due to his recent surgery.
All of this comes not long after Cousins signed a one-year contract with the Lakers, only to suffer a torn ACL in a summer workout. Now, cutting Cousins is on the table for the Lakers, according to NBA reporter Eric Pincus. Part of that is due to ongoing investigation into Cousins, but since he’s out for the season, the Lakers will also likely need his roster spot to sign another player for a Lakers team that hopes to contend for a title next season.
Obviously, domestic violence and terroristic threatening are very serious issues. Especially in recent years, there has been an increased effort to hold professional athletes accountable for violent actions, in particular against current and former significant others.
There is no doubt that the University of Kentucky will get push back on inducting Cousins into the Hall of Fame amid these circumstances. A shadow will be cast over his induction until this legal process is resolved, and perhaps even more so if the claims are substantiated.
“This year’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony will go on as planned,” a University of Kentucky spokesperson told LEX 18. “All inductees have the option to accept their induction in person or with a video sent in to be shown in the ceremony. Cousins has decided to accept his Hall of Fame induction by sending a video, as many past inductees have done.”
What do you make of this? Should UK have elected to hold off on putting Cousins in the Hall of Fame? Or is Cousins innocent until proven guilty, and should be treated as such?