DeMarcus Cousins was playing for the Taiwan Beer Leopards against the Taipei Taishin Mars when he exchanged heated words with opponent Jaylen Johnson on the bench.
DeMarcus Cousins: "Stop playing with your head. You can't do that anywhere in the world."
Jaylen Johnson: "Let's play ball now."
DeMarcus Cousins: "You talking to me bum a*s!"
Boogie dominated in the game, posting 21 points and 20 rebounds, but his team lost. Johnson played a smaller role in his team's win, ending the night with 11 points and nine rebounds.
Cousins may be a few years removed from his NBA career, but that doesn't really bring him down to the status of Jaylen Johnson. However, trash-talk is always going to come from all corners of the court, and it doesn't matter who's saying it to you.
Johnson never made it to the NBA, spending three years with the Lousiville Cardinals before going undrafted in the 2017 NBA Draft. He hopped around the G League for many years, playing for the Windy City Bulls, Iowa Wolves, and Motor City Pistons, but never got an NBA call-up. The 27-year-old joined Taipei in September 2023.
DeMarcus Cousins Knows His NBA Career Is Over
DeMarcus Cousins was actively trying to return to the NBA for the last few offseasons, but he admitted to himself that he won't be back in the NBA after failing to find a team in the 2023 offseason.
"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."
Cousins averaged 19.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 3.0 assists over his career, making four All-Star teams and two All-NBA teams over his 11 years in the league.
During his time with the Kings and Pelicans, it was easy to consider Cousins the best center in the NBA. His best season came with the Sacramento Kings in 2015-16, averaging 26.9 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.4 blocks.
Signing with the Warriors in the summer of 2018 for a minimum as he was returning from a prime-ending Achilles tear he suffered on the Pelicans was a move that soured many people on him. However, he played just 30 games before tearing his ACL and being sidelined again.
Cousins had a spot on the 2019-20 Lakers but would get waived in February 2020 and wasn't on the roster when they won the 2020 Championship. He ended his career with small stints on the Rockets, Clippers, and Nuggets, aging out of the NBA after the 2021-22 season.
He's played in Puerto Rico and Taiwan, performing well. It's clear Cousins will call time on his career when he's comfortable with it, as the NBA dream is finally behind him.
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