Let the chatter commence. With the NBA Finals still five days away, American basketball fans are shifting their attention to the international circuit for now. Consequently, they are becoming reacquainted with someone who was among the best at his position in the world for a period of time. DeMarcus Cousins has once again made himself a topic of conversation after a dominant effort in the T1 League Championship.
The four-time NBA All-Star produced a monster showing, scoring 24 points and securing 24 rebounds to lead the Taiwan Beer Leopards to the title in a four-game sweep. The fantastic stat line should transport Sacramento Kings fans back to the early-2010s, when Cousins proved to be a double-double machine and a top-tier center.
Unsurprisingly, Boogie is named Finals MVP for his mammoth contributions, via ClutchPoints. While injuries cut his time in The Association short, he is thriving overseas. Taiwan surely relishes the added exposure the two-time All-NBA Second-Team selection brings, as Cousins instantly became a top attraction in T1.
The question is, though, how long will he stay there? Considering the big man is healthy, and a newly crowned champ, fans will resume a conversation that has gained steam in the past. Many believe an NBA return is long overdue for DeMarcus Cousins.
NBA fans clamor for DeMarcus Cousins after T1 winĀ
Although the competition is starkly different, Cousins' fans see this feat as vindication for him and proof that he can still make a lasting impact in basketball. āDeMarcus Cousins is wAsHeD!!ā Nah yāall gave up on him and now look at him now!!ā @oTripleTrey posted on X.
Others took their support to the next level, opining that the 33-year-old deserves to be given a serious look by NBA teams. Specific suggestions were made.
āLakers need to sign him,ā @romandontmiss declared. āHear me out, if the Thunder pick him up I think he would do good things,ā@hxndcorpz wrote. āHeat fans, hear me outā¦..ā @edgarwoo_ said.
Cousins is an intriguing fit on all three of the aforementioned squads. The Oklahoma City Thunder's lack of size has been discussed to death, and the former Kings powerhouse could be a worthwhile addition to their bench. He does not need to carry a considerable workload. Approximately 15 minutes per game could provide OKC with the stronger inside presence it needs to hold its own against more physical teams.
The Miami Heat are also traditionally small, with the 6-foot-9 Bam Adebayo serving as their primary interior presence. DeMarcus Cousins may be worth pondering as a potential backup center. He possess a toughness and intensity that is typically welcomed with open arms in South Beach.
A reunion with the Los Angeles Lakers also makes some sense. Cousins signed with the team for the 2019-20 season but devastatingly tore his ACL during the offseason and missed the entire year. He also worked out for the Lakers in January of 2023, which obviously did not end with him donning the Purple and Gold. If Jaxson Hayes declines his $2.46 million player option, general manager Rob Pelinka could be compelled to give Boogie a call.
Does Cousins have a final NBA push in him?
Few question Cousins' productivity. He totaled a double-double of 19.6 points and 10.2 rebounds in 654 regular season NBA games, not commanding as much attention as most talents of his caliber because of Sacramento's collective shortcomings. Even in the 2021-22 campaign, the No. 5 pick in the 2010 NBA Draft was a key role player.
Cousins averaged 8.9 points, 5.5 boards and 1.7 assists in just under 14 minutes per contest for the Denver Nuggets, in what remains his last brush of NBA action. A few years have passed, but it appears that the 6-foot-10 native of Mobile, Alabama still wields skill and ferocity on the court.
On paper, there should presumably be opportunities for him. Though, the perception of him being a āproblem guyā could scare off some executives around the league. The health and durability concerns are unquestionably going to pop up as well. Chemistry is essential for contending teams that want to round out a championship-equipped roster.
The NBA may view DeMarcus Cousins as too big of a gamble, but there are many fans clearly behind him. He and the Beer Leopards will celebrate their win for now and see what the future holds.
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