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NBA Player Power Rankings: Russell Westbrook Pushing for MVP

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 29, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) gestures from the court during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 29, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) gestures from the court during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 25, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) dribbles the ball around Phoenix Suns forward Jon Leuer (30) during the first quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) dribbles the ball around Phoenix Suns forward Jon Leuer (30) during the first quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

10. DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings

Last Rank: No. 11

Position: Center

Slash Line: .453/.340/.722

Season Averages: 34.5 MPG, 27.0 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 2.5 ORPG, 3.3 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 1.1 3PM

The Sacramento Kings are going to miss the 2016 NBA Playoffs. It’s a very disappointing result for a team that has the talent to own the No. 8 seed with DeMarcus Cousins, Rudy Gay, and Rajon Rondo, but the team failed to live up to its full potential.

This seems like something of a Kevin Love situation, but Cousins has become one of the best players in the NBA through his work on both ends of the floor—and that’s where the sympathy comes into play.

Cousins is averaging 27.0 points and 11.6 rebounds per game as a center in the modern era—unlikely numbers. He’s not necessarily elite on defense, but he’s a competitor who plays with physicality and tenacity as both a rebounder and on-ball defender.

This past week, Cousins offered the Kings with a glimpse of what could’ve been.

Sacramento won three of its four outings, with the only loss being the game Cousins didn’t play. He dropped 29 points and 11 rebounds against the Phoenix Suns, had 20 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists on 7-of-12 shooting against the Dallas Mavericks, and tallied 29 points, 10 boards, four assists, five steals, and four blocks against the Washington Wizards.

What more could one possibly ask of him?

Next: Doing Everything