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NBA Player Power Rankings: Damian Lillard for MVP?

By Maxwell Ogden

Feb 23, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Brooklyn Nets 112-104 at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Lillard finished the game with 34 points. Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Brooklyn Nets 112-104 at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Lillard finished the game with 34 points. Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 24, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) between plays against the San Antonio Spurs during the fourth quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Sacramento Kings 108-92. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) between plays against the San Antonio Spurs during the fourth quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Sacramento Kings 108-92. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

8. DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings

Last Rank: No. 8

Position: Center

Age: 25

Slash Line: .449/.365/.723

Season Averages: 34.5 MPG, 27.2 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 2.3 ORPG, 3.1 APG, 1.3 BPG, 1.3 SPG, 1.2 3PM

Sacramento Kings star DeMarcus Cousins may be the most improved player in the NBA. He’s scoring 27.2 points per game, which is both a career-high and a borderline elite mark, but the true measure of his improvement is in how he’s getting those points.

After making 11 career 3-point field goals through five seasons, Cousins has already converted 57 on an efficient mark of 36.5 percent in 2015-16.

Cousins came back from All-Star Weekend in style, recording 37 points, 20 rebounds, and four blocks in a 116-110 victory over the Denver Nuggets. Four days later, he proved that it wasn’t a fluke by recording 39 points, nine boards, and two blocks against those same Nuggets.

A 22-point and 10-rebound performance on 8-of-23 shooting against the San Antonio Spurs wasn’t ideal, but Boogie has done nothing to lose his place in the Top 10.

Cousins has been one of the most statistically prolific players in the NBA for quite some time. With Rajon Rondo facilitating, however, Cousins has upped his game and has the Sacramento Kings at 24-32—a poor record, but one that’s good enough to be in the postseason hunt.

Just 4.0 games back of the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference, Cousins is under more pressure than he’s ever faced before.

Next: An Improbable Season