Embattled veteran big man DeMarcus Cousins had hoped to catch on with an NBA team before the postseason started. Now that the Play-In Tournament is upon us with the playoffs themselves starting this weekend, that’s no longer a possibility.
This has forced Cousins’ hands.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the 32-year-old center has signed on to play in the Puerto Rican Professional Basketball League for the Guaynabo Mets.
This is a pretty stunning fall from grace for a player in Cousins who was once one of the most-talented centers in the entire NBA.
From 2010-17 with the Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans, Cousins averaged well north of 22 points per game with double-digit rebounds.
Unfortunately, Cousins suffered a torn Achilles during the 2017-18 season with the Pelicans. He would go on to play one season with the Golden State Warriors before suffering a torn ACL.
These two injuries have caught up to DeMarcus Cousins big time as the four-time All-Star played with the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets over the course of the previous two seasons before being unable to latch on with a team during the 2022-23 campaign.
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DeMarcus Cousins hoping for another shot in the NBA
At 32 years old, Cousins wouldn’t be signing on to play in Puerto Rico if he didn’t think he had another shot in the Association.
Prior to dealing with the aforementioned injury, the former Kentucky star was seen as a hot head and malcontent during his time in Sacramento. Teams were willing to overlook that due to the otherworldly talent he brought to the table. But with the injuries catching up to him, that’s obviously no longer the case.
Warriors general manager Bob Myers touched on that fact earlier during the 2022-23 season.
“He was here just for a year. DeMarcus called me a month ago and he said, ‘Why am I not in the NBA?’ And I said, ‘You want that answer?’ And he’s like, ‘yea.’ [Myers said] ‘Because people are afraid of how you’re going to act.’ And he’s like ‘Why?’ And I said, ‘Well whatever the reason is, it’s here now.’ And I like DeMarcus. He’s just; I can’t blame him for him because of all he’s been through.:
Bob Myers on lack of interest in DeMarcus Cousins
The hope is that things change in this regard and some team gives Cousins a chance during the 2023-24 NBA season.