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Is DeMarcus Cousins NBA’s Most Versatile Center?

By Nathan Grubel

Mar 27, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 27, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Being a player in today’s NBA means being versatile.

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The best players in the league right now aren’t just specialists in one specific area of the game or two. Whether it’s multiple skills on offense or defense, stars are trying to do more now than ever before on the court.

Throughout history we still remember guys who tried to embrace a similar philosophy. Defensively, Bill Russell did everything and more for the Boston Celtics, being not only a rim protecter but a true one-on-one defender who took the challenge of guarding anyone on the opposing team, no matter their size.

Offensively, Oscar Robertson was the king of triple-doubles. His scoring prowess along with his court vision and rebounding tenacity put him in elite company by the time his career was over.

Players like Robertson and Russell, along with many others, are still celebrated today because of their uniqueness. Arguably the best talent in the league LeBron James is praised because of all of the different things he can do on the floor, from scoring to distributing to playing defense.

Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins seems to have finally begun caring about being more than just a scorer on offense, and may be emerging as one of those special players the league will remember for a long time.

In Sacramento’s Wednesday night loss to the Houston Rockets, Cousins put on a display of what he’s capable of when he’s on and focused. Cousins scored 24 points, grabbed 21 rebounds and dished out 10 assists while also blocking six shots on defense.

That is a monster stat line.

When you think about it, Cousins was all over the floor against the Rockets. No one puts up numbers like that while being lazy and focusing on one area of the court. Cousins ran the floor and played hard for all 39 minutes that he was out there, trying to get his team the win against one of the best squads in the NBA right now, let alone just the Western Conference.

The most impressive part about Cousins’ night was his passing. Whether it was on cuts to the basket, on the elbow or even from the corner, Cousins showed dynamic court vision for a big man, finding his teammates for open looks all game no matter where they were on the floor.

Having a big man with that kind of passing talent does so many things for the offense. If Cousins can continue to spread the floor and be a true face-up threat with his ball-handling and versatility, then that opens up the lane for more players to become slashers to the rim to get higher percentage shots.

Guys like Rudy Gay and Darren Collison have the ability to knock down open shots from the perimeter, but their games are more suited for penetrating the lane and breaking down the defense inside, not just spotting up on shots from deep.

Cousins being able to play out of the post while still having the athleticism and size to bang down low whenever he wishes is huge for Gay and Collison as well as the rest of the team.

The more players that know how to effectively move the ball the less stagnant the offense becomes, something that head coach George Karl has been trying to prioritize since the first day he arrived with the Kings.

His defense also turned a few heads last night, as he hasn’t been known as the most prolific shot blocker during his time in the NBA. Sure Cousins is fully capable of disrupting the opposing team’s offense down low, but he got after the ball against the Rockets, swatting away shot attempts and challenging a bunch of others.

An engaged Cousins on the defensive end is just what the Kings need to make up for their poor perimeter defense.

If Cousins can keep playing like this, then he may become not only the best center in the NBA, but the most versatile as well. Joakim Noah and Marc Gasol are still considered to be better all-around big men, but Cousins showed that he has the potential to get there one day soon if he keeps working and playing hard, maybe even next season.

Cousins was already a special talent in this league, but now he’s beginning to emerge as something even greater. Versatility will always be an important part of winning in the NBA, and Cousins is starting to show Sacramento fans why their team could become a contender in the years to come.

Next: Kings Are Playing Fast Under George Karl

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