NBA rescinds DeMarcus Cousins' technical against Hornets
Sports // Warriors
Connor Letourneau
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 25: DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the Golden State Warriors during their game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on February 25, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
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2of2Golden State Warriors' DeMarcus Cousins (0) reacts to being called for a technical foul by referee Brian Forte (45) during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, Feb. 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)Chuck Burton / Associated PressShow MoreShow Less
MIAMI — The NBA has rescinded a technical foul assessed to Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins for tossing a shoe off the floor in Monday night's win over the Hornets, The Chronicle has confirmed.
The Bay Area News Group was first to report the news.
With 4:51 left, Charlotte guard Jeremy Lamb's shoe slipped off his foot near the foul line. Cousins, who was defending nearby, picked up the shoe and tossed it to the sideline. After the shoe flew out of bounds, referee Brian Forte called a technical on Cousins.
Cousins, who returned last month from an Achilles injury that sidelined him almost a year, was shocked by the call and walked over to Forte multiple times to plead his case.
"Next time, I'll just step on the shoe and roll my ankle, break it, tear an Achilles," Cousins said after the game. "Just leave it out there next time. I guess that's what they want. I'll keep that in mind."
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 25: DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the Golden State Warriors throws the shoe of Jeremy Lamb #3 of the Charlotte Hornets off the court during their game at Spectrum Center on February 25, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)Streeter Lecka / Getty Images
Asked for Forte's explanation for giving him a technical, Cousins said, "Basically, you can't throw a shoe."
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Warriors forward Draymond Green echoed Cousins' surprise over the call.
"I don't know if I've ever seen that, but that's crazy," Green said. "It's sitting in the middle of the floor. I don't know. We have all these rules for player safety. You can barely contest a shot without getting a foul, but you're supposed to leave a shoe sitting there?"
Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cletourneau@sfchronicle.com
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Connor Letourneau moved to the Golden State Warriors beat in September 2016 after a year covering Cal. Previously, he spent two years covering the Oregon State Beavers for The Oregonian. Letourneau is a University of Maryland alum who has interned for The Baltimore Sun and blogged for The New York Times. A Portland, Ore., native, he is interested in telling the stories that extend beyond the field or court.