The NBA has rescinded the technical foul called on Golden State Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins for tossing Jeremy Lamb's shoe off the floor in Monday night's win over the Charlotte Hornets, according to a league source.
The league has been cautious about objects flying into the stands, but upon further review, the league decided against the extra punishment for Cousins.
The big man's shoe toss, and the official's reaction to it, gained plenty of attention on social media and created some empathy for the 28-year-old, who was out almost an entire season while rehabbing an Achilles injury.
Bay Area News Group earlier reported that Cousins' technical foul was rescinded.
The play in question came with 4 minutes, 51 seconds left in the fourth quarter when Lamb's shoe came off near the free throw line. Cousins, who was defending in the area, picked up the shoe with his right hand and tossed it to the sideline. He was whistled for a technical foul by official Brian Forte right after the shoe flew out of bounds. Cousins could not believe the call and went over to Forte a couple of 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."
Cousins said the explanation he got was simple: "Basically, you can't throw a shoe."
