DeMarcus Cousins Done Trying To Convince Teams He Can Still Play

[RealGM Wiretap]

DeMarcus Cousins knows he can still play in the NBA. However, Cousins is done trying to convince NBA teams of that.

"I’m not going to go out trying to convince these guys anymore," Cousins said. "You know what I bring to the floor. It’s been proven. If you really wanted to know who I am, you’d take the time to get to know me instead of listening to somebody else. I’m past trying to reach out. If an opportunity comes that makes sense, I’ll consider it, but I’m done with the convincing."

Cousins last played in the NBA in 2022 with the Denver Nuggets. The veteran center has played for teams in Puerto Rico, Taiwan and the Philippines since then.

The former All-Star center also touched on his college career at the University of Kentucky. Cousins said if NIL had been a thing when he was at Kentucky, he would have stayed for four years. As it was, he said he appreciated John Calipari being honest with him about what was best for Cousins and his family.

"Cal told me, 'If you want to take care of my family, you can stay. If you want to take care of yours, you’re out of here.' That’s real. And it took a coach like him to understand both sides," Cousins said about Calipari. "We’ve all heard the horror stories of coaches holding guys back, and they miss their shot. Cal understood it was bigger than basketball—it was about life."

Via Club 520 Podcast

[puja21]

But not yet done trying to convince himself

"If you really wanted to know who I am, you’d take the time to get to know me instead of listening to somebody else"

It's likely not even about the attitude at this point

Games missed reg season + PO since the Achilles tear:
2018 = 34 + 9
2019 = 52 + 14
2020 = ~72 unsigned during bubble season
2021= 31 + 12
2022 = 34 + healthy in playoffs
2023 = 82 unsigned
2024 = 82 unsigned

So he's missed at least 422 possible games since the big age 27 injury

Since then he's averaged 11 and 7 on woeful shooting: .357/.313/.743

He's just not a winning NBA player any more and there is 6.5 seasons of evidence corroborating this

[donemilio21]

He needed Calipari to tell him not to be a douche and take the money back in 2017 too. Dude could have signed a $170M contract with Kings instead he earned less than $20M since 2017.

[Melwing]

Even given all of that (which is great info), you really don't think that those are okay numbers for an end of the bench veteran min contract?

[Billl]

Even given all of that (which is great info), you really don't think that those are okay numbers for an end of the bench veteran min contract?

The last thing you need is a vet big is for them to be a volume shooter on 36% while not playing much defense.

[Cassius]

He needed Calipari to tell him not to be a douche and take the money back in 2017 too. Dude could have signed a $170M contract with Kings instead he earned less than $20M since 2017.

I thought the whole trade to New Orleans was because the Kings wouldn't offer him the max he was eligible for. Now, not taking the 2/40 New Orleans reportedly offered coming off the ACL, that was not smart.

[Wildcat]

Even given all of that (which is great info), you really don't think that those are okay numbers for an end of the bench veteran min contract?

That's one thing, but the problem with all that is if he still think he's better than those end of bench people, he's going to voice that and that attitude has costed him money. Still costing him money. Attitude + injury concerns typically means you aren't in the NBA.