DeMarcus Cousins declared his name for the NBA draft following an impressive freshman year at Kentucky, during which he averaged 15.1 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Despite concerns that the 6'10" center might benefit from additional collegiate experience, the Sacramento Kings demonstrated faith in his potential and selected him with their 5th overall pick in 2010.
During his six-and-a-half-season spell with the franchise, Cousins achieved notable individual success, earning two All-NBA Second Team selections and two All-Star nods. However, the team's performance lagged behind, managing only 30+ wins campaign twice during his time there.
This discrepancy between personal achievements and overall team success visibly irked DeMarcus as he publicly criticized them for their unstable environment and how it prohibited him from maximizing his potential. Only until coach George Karl blatantly blasted him for being thankless.
Cousins sounded off on the Kings
From his rookie season onwards, DeMarcus established himself as the Kings' leading rebounder. By his third year, he had also become the team's primary scorer, boasting a 45.9 field goal percentage. However, Sacramento underwent frequent changes at multiple levels.
The executive leadership shifted from Geoff Petrie to Pete D'Alessandro to Vlade Divac. Simultaneously, the roster saw consistent experiments with players like Isaiah Thomas, Rudy Gay, Rajon Rondo, and Tyreke Evans cycling through the team.
The coaching staff was equally unstable, with Paul Westphal, Keith Smart, Michael Malone, and Karl all taking turns at the helm. This constant flux meant Cousins had to adapt to new strategic approaches each season.
Furthermore, from the four-time All-Star's perspective, the Kings' front office failed to provide him with a consistent team environment where he could establish solid camaraderie between players and set the tone for success.
Consequently, expressing his disdain for the organization in an interview with ESPN's Marc J. Spears, Cousins asserted that his contributions to the franchise far outweighed what they had done for him.
"What did Sac do for me? Besides, say my name," Cousins said . "I had two owners, three GMs, seven coaches in seven years. I was there (for) seven years. I had three GMs, two owners, and seven coaches. Not much more needs to be said."
Karl reminded Boogie to be thankful
When the one-time coach of the year took over the Kings in the 2014-15 season, they only won 11 of their last 30 games. Trying to make a bold move, he attempted to trade DeMarcus Cousins in the offseason, but it didn't pan out. Boogie responded by tweeting a snake emoji, leading to a very awkward encounter at the Summer League.
By 2015, tensions had escalated so much that the two had a heated argument in the locker room. That being said, Karl, known for not backing down, publicly criticized Cousins, saying he should be grateful to the Kings for paying him over $50 million instead of throwing them under the bus.
It's safe to say Cousins was never alone in getting into Karl's bad books. Plenty of players were involved, including Gary Payton, Kenyon Martin, and Carmelo Anthony, among many more. Kings and Boogie were never a good match as his personality never fitted in within the struggling franchise, and he did not have a calming effect on the team.
Related: “He kind of got caught up in the air” – DeMarcus Cousins on the downfall of Tyreke Evans’ career
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