NBA bad-boy DeMarcus Cousins loses the plot after being given technical foul after throwing shoe into crowd

NBA bad-boy DeMarcus Cousins lost the plot after being slapped with a technical foul for throwing an opponent's shoe into the crowd.

The Golden State Warriors big-man, 28, was livid after the ref punished for trying to keep players safe during the 121-110 win over the Charlotte Hornets.

Cousins claimed he was trying to avoid anyone getting injured by slipping on a shoe that had slipped off Jeremy Lamb's foot.

The former Sacramento Kings star has only just returned to the court after nearly a year on the sidelines for tearing his Achilles.

And Cousins didn't hold back in his criticism of the official, sarcastically saying: "Next time I'll just step on the shoe and roll my ankle, break it, tear an Achilles.

"Just leave it out there next time. I guess that's what they want. I'll keep that in mind."

Cousins' famously hot-headed team-mate Draymond Green had his say on the bizarre incident - calling the whole sequence "crazy".

Green added: "I don't know if I've ever seen that. But that's crazy.

"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?

"It's just kind of crazy to me, but it is what it is.

"I thought Brian Forte reffed a great game tonight, so that's one call that's a little questionable."

Meanwhile, All-Star Stephen Curry added his thoughts, saying: "He's got to be a little bit more delicate throwing it to the sideline - like horseshoes.

"Just got to touch the line and sit down, not throw it in the stands. He's too strong, that's all. Too strong."

In other shoe-related basketball news, Nike have opened an investigation after future No1 NBA draft pick Zion Williamson injured his knee after his foot burst through his shoe.