DeMarcus Cousins may not have clinched an NBA title during his seven-year tenure with the Sacramento Kings, but his impact on the franchise is undeniable. His remarkable performance solidifies his place among the elite players in the team’s history. In light of this, Cousins has expressed a strong desire to see his jersey retired by the Kings, a fitting tribute to his contributions on the court.
Cousins, a three-time NBA All-Star and two-time All-NBA honoree during his stint in Sacramento, blossomed into a formidable force within the Kings‘ lineup. Sacramento was the site of his early growth, where his skills first caught the league’s attention.
His pinnacle season with the Kings was the 2015-16 NBA campaign. During that year, he commanded attention by leading the conference in regular-season field goal attempts and two-point attempts, while averaging an impressive 26.9 points and 11.5 rebounds per game.
Cousins’ legacy with the Kings extends beyond statistics, as he voiced his thoughts on the possibility of his number being retired. “Obviously it would be an honor. That was something that I definitely wanted and strived for as far as why I tried to go out and perform every single night. Accolade-wise, I feel like I did all the right things while I was in that jersey … As far as All-Stars, as far as All-NBA selections, numbers, gold medals. I put my work in,“ Cousins stated on the Straight Game podcast.
Over his career with the Kings, Cousins participated in 470 regular-season games, starting in 448 of them. He averaged 31.9 minutes on the court per game and produced an impressive stat line with 21.1 points, 3 assists, and 10.2 rebounds per game on average.
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A significant portion of Cousins’ scoring arsenal came from inside the paint, as he consistently attempted 16.5 shots per game, including 15.3 two-pointers, while converting 73% of his free throws. Defensively, he was also a stalwart, averaging 7.8 defensive rebounds per matchup.
Despite his individual brilliance, Cousins was unable to guide the Kings to the playoffs. He eventually experienced postseason action with the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, and Denver Nuggets, his last NBA team.
Cousins’ time with the Kings remains a highlight of his career, and there’s fervent hope from both him and his fans that the organization will honor his legacy by retiring his jersey.
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