DeMarcus Cousins Comments on Internal Issues with Kings and Players-Only Meeting

It took all of eight games during the 2015-16 NBA season for issues to arise with the Sacramento Kings.

On Monday night, the San Antonio Spurs blew out the 1-7 Kings 106-88 off their home floor, and DeMarcus Cousins suggested afterward there are more concerns than lackluster play.

According to James Ham of CSNBayArea.com, who paraphrased Cousins, the 2015 All-Star said there are "some internal issues going on with the Kings right now that have to be handled." Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee, also paraphrasing, added Cousins believes "a players-only meeting is in order."

Cousins said the issues were "not at all" of the on-court variety, per Jones, and Ham relayed another telling quote: "Just to make it clear, I believe in every single person in this room. We've just got to stay together."

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Coach George Karl called his relationship with Cousins "a process" last season after there were initial reports on whether the big man even wanted Karl in Sacramento, per James Herbert of CBS Sports.

Cousins was third in the league in technical fouls last season, second in 2011-12 and first in both 2012-13 and 2013-14. What's more, everyone on the roster is under 30 years old, except for Caron Butler, so there could be some growing pains.

Andy Glockner of the Cauldron added some context to the slow start:

While the Kings are only eight games in, the Western Conference is loaded. For instance, the Oklahoma City Thunder missed the playoffs last season with a 45-37 record.

Cousins has only played four games so far due to a strained right Achilles, and the Kings are 0-4 without him. For the season, the Kentucky product is averaging 21.8 points and 11.3 rebounds on 37.1 percent shooting from the floor.