DeMarcus Cousins is living the All-Star weekend dream. An appearance on Jimmy Fallon, followed by a packed media session and then off to the NBA’s fashion show to walk the runway.
“I’m extremely excited,” Cousins said of his first All-Star appearance. “I didn’t really know what to expect coming in, but I’m having fun so far.”
Once All-Star weekend ends, reality is waiting back in Sacramento for Cousins, a fact that media members were all too happy to point out. The Kings have lost 13 of 15 and are spiraling out of control this season. They currently sit at 18-34, and a ninth straight year without a playoff appearance is all but assured.
“It’s been a lot of ups and downs,” Cousins said. “We started out hot early in the year and we’ve had a lot of adversity throughout the year. Now we’re to the point where we’re trying to finish out strong. Just trying to stay strong and stay positive at the same time.”
Hopefully the addition of veteran coach George Karl will help stem the tide. Karl, 63, will take over the team coming out of the All-Star break after Tyrone Corbin was relieved of his duties on Thursday.
“I feel like it’s an early training camp; that’s a way we can approach it,” Cousins said of the Kings final 30 games this season. “So basically we can prepare for next season.”
Karl is the fifth coach for Cousins in his five seasons in Sacramento and the third this season. He comes to Sacramento with 1,131 victories, enough for sixth all-time. Hopefully he will provide the stability that both Cousins and the Kings have been searching for.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had a coach for more than a year and a half maybe,” Cousins said. “It feels good to know I have one for the long haul, at least for now. And that’s a good feeling in itself.”
Cousins was clear that he and Karl haven’t had the chance to talk, but that he is excited to move forward with one of the league’s winningest coaches. He wasn’t happy about the team jettisoning Malone in December. Nor was he happy to be brought into the discussion regarding Karl last weekend. But now that the former NBA Coach of the Year is locked into a new four year deal to coach the Kings, there seems to be a plan in place.
“I want everyone to be on the same page,” Cousins said. “That’s been the biggest issue so far. (I’m) just trying to figure out what their plan is. I think we’ve done that right now and like I said, it’s just about everyone being on the same page.”
Cousins has plenty of support this weekend in New York. Former Kings teammate Isaiah Thomas, who is set to compete in the Skills challenge on Saturday, had nothing but kind words to say.
“He deserves it man, he deserves it,” Thomas said. “He’s been through a lot, not only in his career, but this season he’s been through a lot. The best big man in the world by far and he deserves it and I hope he has a great game on Sunday.”
Cousins’ former Kentucky teammate and current Washington Wizard John Wall is also in attendance. The high-flying guard considers Cousins more of a brother than anything else. The two even have matching tattoos.
“He’s just being more of a team player,” said Wall. “He’s staying calm and cool. He’s not getting hot headed and getting a lot of techs and throwing temper tantrums like he would at times. Everybody knew he was one of the best bigs in the league.”
Cousins will come off the bench for Steve Kerr, who will coach the Western Conference All-Stars on Sunday. With starters Anthony Davis and Blake Griffin missing the game due to injury, Cousins will get plenty of opportunity to shine.
Once the weekend is over, Cousins will fly back to reality in Sacramento, where a new coach is waiting to get his hands on his star pupil.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
