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NBA Player Power Rankings: All-Star Break Edition

By Maxwell Ogden

February 9, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30), forward Draymond Green (23), and guard Klay Thompson (11) hold their all star jerseys before the game against the Houston Rockets at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
February 9, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30), forward Draymond Green (23), and guard Klay Thompson (11) hold their all star jerseys before the game against the Houston Rockets at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 5, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) drives to the basket against Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) drives to the basket against Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /

8. DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings

Last Rank: No. 8

Position: Center

Age: 25

Slash Line: .445/.349/.725

Season Averages: 34.3 MPG, 26.8 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 2.3 ORPG, 3.2 APG, 1.3 BPG, 1.3 SPG, 1.2 3PM

As the Sacramento Kings stay within striking distance of the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference, DeMarcus Cousins continues to expand his game. After converting 11 3-point field goals during his first five seasons combined, he’s made 52 in 2015-16 alone.

That’s one of the least impressive statistical feats of Cousins’ season, which exhibits how dominant he’s been individually.

Cousins is on pace to be the first center to average at least 25.0 points per game since Yao Ming in 2006-07, per Basketball-Reference.com. Considering Yao played in just 48 games that season, the statistic can be traced all the way back to Shaquille O’Neal in 2002-03.

Cousins’ ability to balance the 3-point shot with dominating the interior on both ends is something that we’ve never seen from a center

Cousins began the most recent week with a triple-double, recording 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Brooklyn Nets. He scored 31 points the next time out, had 14 points and eight rebounds in 28 minutes against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and posted 28 points, 12 boards, and five assists in a road win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

The question is, will we ever see Cousins play a postseason game in a Kings uniform?

Next: On a Magic MJ Pace