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Even after 7 years with the franchise, DeMarcus Cousins has no love for the Sacramento Kings.
In an exclusive interview with Andscape, the 4x All-Star roasted his former team and called them out for the years of the mismanagement he was forced to endure during his tenure there.
Marc Spears: You had success playing for Malone in Sacramento when he was fired after an 11-13 start during the 2014-15 season after losing eight of 10 games while you were out fighting viral meningitis. What do you recall about his firing and how it affected you?
Cousins: I thought they were insane, and it shows. You don’t even really have to speak on it, because what I knew then about Mike, I knew he would soar. He went to the next place and has been nothing but successful. When he was with us [in Sacramento], he was successful. Still doesn’t make sense and it never will. Everything else that happened to Sac should have never happened. That guy should have never been fired. The rest of what happened in Sac would have never happened if they let him go.
Spears: You think you would have been in Sacramento longer if they didn’t let him go?
Cousins: Absolutely. We would’ve been winning. We would’ve won. Probably would have finished my career there along with Mike. Simple as that. I don’t reflect on it much anymore. I’ve kind of bounced around and been through so much other things, it’s hard to even harp on that situation. Sitting there focusing on that, I probably wouldn’t be where I’m at now. I had to put a lot of time and focus on just righting my wrongs, correcting my body, trying to get back in shape and all the other rehab. It was just so much other things. It’s hard to even focus on Sacramento, and for what? They sucked before I got there. They sucked when I was there. They sucked after I left.
Cousins had his best years in Sac-Town. In 7 seasons, he averaged 21.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game on 45% shooting. He made the All-Star team three times.
Unfortunately, for as much success as Cousins had individually, his team never really saw any form of playoff success, and much of that can be contributed to poor decisions by the front office.
Spears: If you could go back and change anything, what would you change that might have changed how you’re perceived now? Is there anything where you’re like, “Man, I should’ve just …”
Cousins: I would’ve skipped my draft workout [in Sacramento].
Spears: Why is that?
Cousins: What did Sac do for me? Besides say my name [draft day]. I did more for them than they did for me. That’s just being honest. Just being 100% honest. I had two owners, three GMs, seven coaches in seven years. I was there seven years. I had three GMs, two owners and seven coaches. Not much more needs to be said.
Cousins was traded to New Orleans in 2017 and he did have some success playing alongside Anthony Davis.
Sadly, things took a turn for the worse not long after. He would suffer a series of injuries that sidelined him for years. Today, he played a minimal role for the Denver Nuggets, averaging less than 15 minutes per game.
Looking back, it's hard to say for sure how Cousins' career would have turned out had he skipped his draft workout in Sacramento. Perhaps he'd be much better off. Either way, DeMarcus wishes things could have turned out differently and it really makes you wonder how many other players resent their time with the organization.
Seriously, when will the Kings get their act together.
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