It seems crazy to think that itās been 15 years since DeMarcus Cousins and John Wall wreaked havoc together at Kentucky. Itās even crazier to realize that neither of them is in the NBA anymore.
Wall struggled with injuries and missed plenty of time in the final stretch of his career. Cousins, on the other hand, drew a bad reputation for his strong character, and injuries also pushed him away.
Cousinsā personality was always a talking point. Even so, John Calipari, his coach, knew that he was also more than worth the risk. Thatās what he told NBA teams before the Sacramento Kings eventually took him at No. 5.
John Calipari had strong words for DeMarcus Cousins
āIf you want something easier, then take somebody else,ā he said, according to ESPN. āIf you want to take on this challenge and make him one of the best players in the NBA, then he has it all. Heās got the size, the mind, and heās smart enough to remember plays and make adjustments. Heās one of the most intelligent players Iāve ever coached.ā
DeMarcus Cousins
DeMarcus Cousins is still active and looks like someone who could contribute to any NBA team, even if it were for limited stretches and coming off the bench in certain matchups.
He will go down as one of the most talented big men in recent history, and itās sad to see how his reputation may have pushed him away from the game when he still had so much more to give.
