Hoops Habit
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DeMarcus Cousins could be the NBA’s next great renaissance story

By Peter O'Keefe

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 23: DeMarcus Cousins #4 of the Denver Nuggets warms up before the game against the Detroit Pistons at Ball Arena on January 23, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Mito/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 23: DeMarcus Cousins #4 of the Denver Nuggets warms up before the game against the Detroit Pistons at Ball Arena on January 23, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Mito/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images) /
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DeMarcus Cousins
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 26: DeMarcus Cousins #4 of the Denver Nuggets reacts and gets ejected from game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 26, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michelle Farsi/Getty Images) /

DeMarcus Cousins is a winning player

There’s never been a question on his ability to fill the box score, averaging 8.9 points and 5.5 rebounds in just under 14 minutes for the Nuggets during 31 regular season games. The question with Cousins, even in his prime years, has been his ability to be a contributor to winning basketball.

Throughout his 11 NBA seasons, Cousins has recorded a negative plus-minus in six. He’s only been involved in three playoff runs, with none of those coming in his prime years with Sacramento or New Orleans.

But what we saw in Round 1 was a Denver team who was much more competitive when Cousins was on the floor. The Nuggets struggled across the five games, being outscored by 40 points across the series. However, Cousins tied for a team-high +0.6 in plus-minus, joining Bryn Forbes as the only Nugget with a positive net rating (of those that played at least ten minutes per game).

Of course, this is all in the context of a limited backup role. But what’s stopping Cousins from doing this on a permanent basis moving forward? You could look at his defensive liability as a reason, but in a bench role, you can hide that somewhat against opposition second units.

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