SUMMARY
- DeMarcus Cousins played for seven franchises through 11 seasons.
- He averaged 19.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 3 assists per game during his career.
DeMarcus Cousins will forever hold a special place in the hearts of NBA fans for years to come. He gave everything he had in terms of skill and expertise for 11 seasons. But now, his association with the league as an active player has officially ended. Over the years, Cousins was revered as one of the best centers in the league. He was the epitome of what people call a “modern center” since the game evolved into what it is today.
DeMarcus Cousins opens up about moving on from the NBA.
Full convo drops Monday pic.twitter.com/Vc2aN72gck
— Podcast P with Paul George (@PodcastPShow) February 24, 2024
The 5x NBA All-Star gave fans some memorable performances over the years starting way back since his college days. Cousins played under the guidance of legendary college basketball coach John Calipari. He spent a good amount of time at the University of Memphis and followed Calipari to Kentucky. Even though he failed to win an NCAA Tournament with the Wildcats, Cousins proved his dominance and declared for the NBA Draft in 2010.
How many NBA teams did DeMarcus Cousins play for?
Through 11 seasons, DeMarcus Cousins played for seven NBA teams. In 2010, he was welcomed into the league by the Sacramento Kings as the fifth overall pick. Cousins was most known for having the agility and offensive stride of a guard. With the Kings, he achieved elite numbers and set a couple of records including most points scored at the Golden 1 Center with 56. Cousins also was a big-time bully within the paint. He appeared for 470 games with the Kings averaging 21.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3 assists per game.
After seven seasons with the Kings, Boogie was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2017. He joined his fellow Kentucky star, Anthony Davis. By this time, Cousins had already established himself as a dominant force and this duo was expected to wreak havoc. Unfortunately, during the 2017-18 season, Cousins ruptured his Achilles. Despite averaging 25 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game, he wasn’t offered another contract from NOLA.
He was led to agree to a one-year deal with the Golden State Warriors valid through the 2018-19 season. However, he barely appeared on the floor since he tore his quadriceps muscle. In 30 appearances, he averaged 16.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. After that, he signed a deal with the LA Lakers. But once against injuries restricted him from playing. Cousins swapped between four teams (Houston Rockets, LA Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Denver Nuggets) from 2020 to 2022. Ultimately, he was never signed to another franchise.
Injuries derailed DeMarcus Cousins’ final seasons in the NBA
We have established two major injuries that DeMarcus Cousins had before joining the Lakers in 2019. But there was a third injury that severely derailed Cousins’ career that took place while he was with the Lakers. He tore his ACL which sidelined him for the entire season. Unfortunately, because he never played with the Lakers, he was not offered a championship ring. This wasn’t Cousins’ only shot at the title. While he was with the Warriors, injuries of other players caused the team’s downfall in the NBA Finals that season.
You had to be there for how special Demarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis were together. 🔥
One of the biggest “what-ifs” in NBA history.pic.twitter.com/30d2T8kO7s
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) February 26, 2024
Ultimately, DeMarcus Cousins averaged 19.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 3 assists per game in 654 appearances. In 2015, he recorded a career-high in rebounds with 24 against the San Antonio Spurs. He scored 39 points in that game. During that same season, Cousins recorded a career-high 13 assists with 24 points, 20 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 1 steal. He shot 46% from the field, 33.1% from the arc, and 73.7% from the foul line throughout his career.
How many 50-point games does DeMarcus Cousins have?
DeMarcus Cousins recorded two 50-point games during his career. He scored 56 points against the Charlotte Hornets on January 25, 2016. Later that year, Cousins recorded 55 points against the Portland Trail Blazers.
When was DeMarcus Cousins’ prime?
DeMarcus Cousins’ prime spanned between the 2015 and 2017 seasons. His best run came during the 2015-16 seasons when he averaged 27.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game.
What is DeMarcus Cousins known for?
DeMarcus Cousins is known for being the best center in the NBA during the mid-2010s.
How many times was DeMarcus Cousins an All-Star?
DeMarcus Cousins was named an All-Star five times in 11 seasons.