DeMarcus Cousins' career has been riddled with ups and downs. From being a headache in Sacramento to legitimate MVP candidate in New Orleans to barely getting 10-day contracts, Cousins has experienced it all. His latest trip sent him to the Denver Nuggets, rejoining his former Kings coach Michael Malone.
The Nuggets were impressed with his two 10-day contract stints, so they signed DeMarcus Cousins for the rest of the year. A few days after this became official, Cousins proved that the trust given to him was worth it, as he produced an impressive statline in just limited minutes. (via Stat Squatch)
DeMarcus Cousins had 19 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists against the Blazers tonight.
He is the only NBA player in the last 35 seasons to record that stat line while finishing the game with fewer than 20 minutes played. pic.twitter.com/6MHltS1PEX
— Jake Coyne (Stat Squatch) (@BroncoSquatch) February 28, 2022
It's a cherry-picked stat, but what's impressive here isn't just the fact that it wasn't done in 35 years. For Cousins to earn these stats in limited minutes for the Nuggets is incredible. As the team looks to make a final push for the playoffs, these types of performances are a welcome surprise for Nikola Jokic and co.
Cousins was very nearly out of the league before the Nuggets signed him to a 10-day contract. Multiple lower leg injuries (including a dreaded Achilles tear) led many experts to view him as damaged goods. His lackluster stints with other teams seemed to prove the narrative that Boogie was washed, and he was soon out of the league.
Turns out, all it took was joining up with his former mentor in Denver for Cousins to reinvigorate his career. With Michael Porter Jr. set to come back soon and Jamal Murray rehabbing an ACL tear, the Nuggets might be getting healthy at the right time. If the stars align, they may be able to get over the proverbial hump in this postseason.
Follow Us
Subscribe