The Evolution Of DeMarcus Cousins

Since entering the league in 2010, DeMarcus Cousins had always been known primarily as an immature, cancerous hot-head.

Pundits were quick to give their final verdict on Cousins — as he would undoubtedly follow a similar career trajectory as Derrick Coleman, a wildly talented big man who never reached his full potential due to his lack of mental acuity.

However, despite having to mature in an environment of chaos — where he’s played under four different head coaches, two ownership groups, and endured a sure-fire relocation that eventually fell through during the 11th hour — he, somehow, was able to nurture his natural volatile mind-state and discharge a much calmer demeanor.

The maturation of Boogie began last season under the guidance of the Kings’ new ownership group and former head coach, Mike Malone. The fruits of their collective labor have fully come to fruition this year, however.

When watching a Kings’ game this season, the slouched shoulders and half-hearted trots back on defense after not getting the ball, the verbal assaults on referees after a missed call, as well as the carcinogenic body language after being subbed out of the game, occur few and far in between, if ever.

The new Boogie, instead, uses the full capacity of his mental fortitude on the game of basketball. Accordingly, his production on the court has followed suit and improved dramatically.

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Specifically, no longer do we see Cousins barrel into a clogged paint, or do his best Chris Webber impersonation by throwing a bevy of low percentage no look passes.

Alternatively, Cousins has focused on attacking opposing defenses quickly, often driving to the hoop off of the catch on pick-and-roll situations when defenses are vulnerable, or punishing opposing 4s and 5s on the left block before the double can get there.

Consequently, Cousins’ effective field goal percentage and true shooting percentage has gradually increased for each of his five seasons in the NBA. Unlike the other top scoring bigs in the league, namely, LaMarcus Aldridge and Blake Griffin — both of whom have continued to drift their games away from the basket as their careers progresses — Cousins has honed in on attacking on the rim, where he is most effective.

Per Game

Per 36 Minutes 

Percentage of Field Goal Attempts – By Distance

Field Goal Percentage – By Distance 

*All Stats Courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com

In fact, Cousins has been able to attempt the highest percentage of his shots at-the-rim, this season, than any year prior — as 43.7 percent of his shots derive from 0-3 feet. As a result, Cousins has been able to produce an ungodly free throw rate of 52.3 percent — also, a career best.

Moreover, Cousins has become a much more proficient finisher at-the-rim, as he’s converting 70.3 percent of his shots from in close, a dramatic improvement when compared to the high 50s-low 60s he shot during his first 3 seasons.

DeMarcus Cousins’ Rookie Shot Chart

DeMarcus Cousins’ Shot Chart This Season

*LA = League Average     DST=Percentage of Field Goal Distribution

** Tables courtesy of NBA Stats

The new and improved Boogie is considered, by many, a top-3 center in the league. In addition, statistically-speaking, all advance metrics indicate Cousins is, by far, the best offensive center in the association — in particular, he leads all centers in PER and second in win shares per 48 minutes.

However, unlike in eras past, where most teams utilize their center as their primary offensive weapon, point guards have taken over the mantle as the go-to playmaker for most NBA teams — as the high pick-and-roll have become the modern day equivalent of yesteryear’s’ isolation post-ups.

“True” centers, nowadays, have been regulated to a role similar to that of an NFL lineman. Where, most notably, they are asked to dominate the trenches, protect the rim, set hard screens, and dive/cut to the hoop with conviction.

The modern day poster boys of an ideal center are seven-feet, active, athletic freaks, like DeAndre Jordan, Andre Drummond, and Dwight Howard, whereas the back-to-the-basket slow-plotting traditional 5s, like Al Jefferson and Brook Lopez, are not valued nearly as highly due to their inability to anchor an elite-level defense.

Although Cousins has improved in his efforts on the defensive end markedly, Boogie’s defensive efficacy is still plagued by several bad habits. Particularly, Cousins often gets too attached to his own man, especially on help situations, even when his check is not a viable offensive threat. As a result, many times, Cousins is a second or two late on defensive rotations.

In addition, for long stretches in a defensive possession, Cousins is caught with his hands below his knees, and not in an active, athletic defensive stance. Thus, Cousins usually resort to reaching when defending the paint, as opposed to contesting the opponent’s shot attempt.

Cousins has proven to be one of the, if not the, best charge takers in the NBA — as Boogie has an inherent knack of sliding his nimble feet in front of hard charging rim attackers.

However, with his propensity to reach on drives, in conjunction with being late on rotations, while gambling on an abundance of charge/block calls, Cousins is still extremely foul prone. In fact, Cousins is currently averaging 5.1 fouls per 36 minutes — the highest mark since his rookie season.

With today’s interpretation on the rule of verticality, where body contact is usually ignored by referees as long as the rim protector has his arms straight up — Cousins, with his sturdy 270-pound frame, 7’6″ wingspan, and gargantuan 9’5″ standing reach — would be wise to thoroughly exercise it.

By contesting shots at-the-rim following the lenient restraints on verticality, Cousins could morph himself into an elite rim protector, as Boogie already holds opponents to a respectable 44.3 percent at-the-rim.

As well, he would probably save 1-2 fouls per game contesting shots with his arms up, rather than swiping down at balls or trying to draw unpredictable charges. Consequently, Cousins can stay on the court longer than the 32 minutes per game he has been averaging over the past two seasons.

Cousins is already an accomplished offensive player, and have proven to be a capable primary option on offense. Specifically, Boogie can dominate on the block with turnaround J’s and drop steps, in the high post with overpowering drives and face up jumpers, as well as in pick-and-roll situations where he can pop out and attack against scrambling, out-of-position defenses or roll to the rim and finish with authority.

The next phase of Cousins’ evolution will come on the defensive end. With a few habitual tweaks, combined with his physical gifts, there is no question Boogie can improve his defensive impact and become an elite level defensive anchor.

When that happens, Cousins will, hands down, be the best center in the league — and it won’t matter who the Kings hire to be the team’s next head coach, or if they do decide to play 4-on-5, Cousins will most definitely drag the Kings back into the Western Conference playoff picture.

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