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[Saba Sports News] DeMarcus Cousins, known as one of the NBA’s toughest players during his 11-year career, believes the league could use a two-minute “fight session” to settle heated player and coaching disputes, rather than the usual technical fouls. Speaking on *Run It Back FDTV*, Cousins pitched the idea as a way to entertain fans and boost ratings:
“If I was running things, I wouldn’t mind a 2-minute fighting session. Give the guys a moment to get it off their chest, then get back to the game. It would be entertaining and only the strong survive,” he said, adding, “But I don’t know if today’s game is quite built for that.”
When asked which coach might be tough in this scenario, Cousins pointed to Denver Nuggets’ Michael Malone, saying, “Mike Malone. He’s known for putting hands on coaches; don’t get it twisted.”
The idea isn’t entirely original—Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla has also floated the concept, drawing inspiration from ice hockey, where players can hash out their differences in a quick, controlled fight. Mazzulla mused, “I wish you could bring back fighting. I don’t get why some sports allow it, and we can’t.”
While many fans are excited by the idea as a way to inject toughness and appeal into the NBA, others worry it would cheapen the sport. Houston Rockets’ Steven Adams even joked that he’d pay to punch Rudy Gobert in the nose, illustrating the mix of humor and hesitation surrounding the proposal.
Despite the intrigue, the NBA’s long-standing position on fouls and physical play makes it unlikely that Cousins’ idea will see the light of day anytime soon. Still, it’s a fun thought experiment for those who feel the league has lost a bit of its edge.