Once one of the most dominant big men in the NBA, it seems that DeMarcus Cousins‘ career in the league is officially over. The soon-to-be 34-year-old will play for Filipino team Zamboanga Valientes for the rest of the 2024 season.
COUSINS IN MANILA 🤩
Former NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Friday afternoon. He is slated to play as an import for the Zamboanga Valientes in the final segment of The Asian Tournament.
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— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) August 2, 2024
Cousins was last seen in the NBA during the 2021-22 season. That year, he played with the Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets. However, he is perhaps best known for his time with the Sacramento Kings. After the team drafted him fifth overall in the 2010 NBA Draft, Cousins became an elite big man with the Kings. In parts of seven seasons with the team, he averaged 21.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game. Additionally, he was a three-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection with the Kings.
The Kentucky alum also played for the New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, and Los Angeles Clippers. Cousins was on the 2020 Los Angeles Lakers championship team, but he never suited up due to an ACL injury.
Throughout his NBA career, Cousins averaged 19.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. Additionally, he was one of the best big men in the NBA of the 2010s.
2x All-NBA Center Signs With Filipino Basketball Team
DeMarcus Cousins Already Ruled Out NBA Comeback
In February, Cousins spoke about the idea of returning to the NBA. The big man made it clear that he was “ready to move on” once and for all.
“I know I’ve had my time there. You know, there was a point where I was trying to make that happen. But the place I’m in my life now, just with everything I’ve got going on, just outside of basketball, like I’m in a good place. So, like I said, I’m excited for what I have ahead and my future. You know, my 12 years in the league were a small chapter or chapters in my life. And, I’m ready to move on to the next and see what’s in store for me.”
With the recent news, it seems that Cousins is still able to play basketball at the professional level. However, it seems that we have officially seen the last of Cousins in the NBA.
The Last Word on DeMarcus Cousins
Before his injuries, Cousins was one of the best big men in the NBA. His stint with the Kings was a very interesting one, however. Despite being inarguably the best center in the league for a few years, it never amounted to winning basketball for a while. In his seven-year tenure in Sacramento, the Kings never made the postseason once. Additionally, their best record with Cousins was their 33-49 finish during the 2015-16 season. This ended up being Cousins’ last full season with the Kings.
He was, however, able to join other contending teams later on and provide a boost. Although they eventually lost the series to the Toronto Raptors in 2019, Cousins played a solid role on the Warriors that season.
Despite his sudden dropoff, Cousins will always go down as one of the best big men of his era.
