Kings reinstate C Cousins

The Sacramento Kings announced Monday that they reinstated center DeMarcus Cousins, effective immediately. Cousins practiced with the team in Sacramento. It was his first time on the court with his teammates since screaming at coach Keith Smart at halftime during Friday's loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. The team suspended Cousins on Saturday. Cousins, 22, has had runs-ins with team management throughout his three years with the Kings, but told USA Today on Monday that he wants to stay in Sacramento. He said he spoke with Smart on Sunday and planned to meet with his teammates. He admitted to Smart after Friday's game that he "was wrong" and apologized. The Kings have tried unsuccessfully to get Cousins to see a mental health counselor, according to USA Today. Teammates told the newspaper that they support Cousins but he does not always make it easy. "It's hard," forward Chuck Hayes said. "We've always got that one family member who always does their own thing ... and you don't always agree with their ways. But you still love them, and they're still family. "Not so much of a crazy uncle, just that uncle that just kind of (makes you) raise your eyebrows, like 'Why did he do that?' But he's still family here. We still have him here. We're not writing him off. It's just every now and then a family member needs some discipline, needs to be told what to do, and that's what's happening. When he's ready to come back, we'd love to have him." Guard John Salmons said he believes the team's situation with Cousins can get better. "It's one of those love-conquers-all type of things," he said. "You've got to stay the course with him. He's still a teammate, still part of the family, and you've got to continue to support him ... (but) the organization has a right to do what they did." Cousins has been disciplined three times this season. He was suspended for two games in November after confronting San Antonio Spurs broadcaster and former player Sean Elliott because of comments he made about Cousins during the telecast. Cousins was also suspended a game earlier this month for hitting Dallas Mavericks' OJ Mayo in the groin during their game. Cousins' clashes with former coach Paul Westphal his rookie season led to Westphal's firing. Cousins is averaging a team-high 16.6 points and 9.5 rebounds per game this season.