HOW TO HANDLE A PROBLEM PLAYER

Before the draft, most agreed that DeMarcus Cousins was the most gifted player in the draft. The hang up? His head. Scouts and general managers all over wondered if he was simply immature or if he had the potential to be one of the league's newest head cases.

So far, it's looking like the latter.

Against the Warriors Tuesday night with the Kings (who are 5-21, mind you) holding a five-point lead with about 20 seconds left, Golden State's Reggie Williams missed a free throw. Cousins walked off his low block position, put his hand to his throat and made a pretty clear choking gesture directed at Williams. What happened next is what made this kind of a big deal. The Kings ended up the chokers, blowing the lead capped by a Vladamir Radmanovic 3-pointer to send the game to overtime where naturally, Sacramento lost.

Long story-short... Kings coach Paul Westphal said Cousins has been fined and benched until he grows up and acts more "professional." "It’s unprofessional, childish, embarrassing and it won’t be tolerated," Westphal told reporters.

Cousins, on the gesture: "It was immature. I was caught up in the game and let my emotions get the best of me and shouldn’t have done it. But if I would have did it and we won it probably wouldn’t have had the same consequences afterward."

Cousins obviously has some stuff to learn. He's been criticized a bit this season already for being lazy and has been kicked out of a few practices for different issues.

(Thanks Royce Young, CBS Sports)

---------------------------------------

Some say Westphal is overreacting with his punishment (benching & fine). But having had one of these "problem players" in the past, I know all too well the distractions and negative chemistry a player like that can bring to a team, and I applaud Westphal for trying to nip this one in the bud immediately... which is what I wish I would have done as well.

4:13