DeMarcus Cousins may be in some hot water after allegedly directing some explicitly offensive remarks toward an official during the Sacramento Kings' 120-102 loss to the Miami Heat on Tuesday night.

According to Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee, Cousins may have let loose a homosexual slur from his lips while berating an official during the game.

 

The comment earned Boogie a technical foul and could result in heavy fines if the NBA determines that the word used was, indeed, the slight in question. Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant was slapped with a $100,000 fine for using the same word to berate an official last season.

After the game, though, Cousins clarified the content of his remarks:

 

Whether the league will actually levy a fine or suspension of any sort remains to be seen. The NBA has taken a strong stand against homophobia among its ranks of late, even going so far as to have Grant Hill and Jared Dudley speak up about the issue in a televised public service announcement.

Cousins has something of a reputation for petulance around the league. He came in via the 2010 NBA draft with lingering questions concerning his character and commitment to the game and has proven to be something of a burden since.

A point to which Paul Westphal would surely attest.

If the league determines that Cousins did, in fact, use a homosexual slur, then it must take swift and forceful action to reprimand him for it. Homophobia is not something to be tolerated or brushed aside in any arena of society, including one as public and influential as the NBA.