DeMarcus Cousins has had to endure it all with the same blank and cold scowl that strikes fear into most. The insults, the jabs at his personality and what he brings to the table on the basketball court, and then of course that bold and borderline racist prediction that never came true from Fox Sports reporter Clay Travis:
DeMarcus Cousins calls out a writer who guaranteed he’d be arrested #Owned http://t.co/P0Fdpi67rs pic.twitter.com/5DsMlyGuub
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 30, 2015
Yet through all the name calling, the unnecessary stereotypes, and a painful case of viral meningitis, here stands the big man from Mobile, Alabama. Who after Sunday will have the title of “All-Star” finally added to what will surely be numerous accolades and awards he will rack up before he hangs up his trademark headband. Boogie is finally an All-Star, but the truth lies in the irony of his newfound public attention.
Truth is DeMarcus Cousins has known before the word ever got out he was destined for greatness. He knew it after he dropped a triple-double in his first High School Varsity game as a Freshman. When he was at Kentucky and University of Mississippi students got a hold of his phone number and blew it up with racist voicemails and texts only to see him play arguably the game of his life? He knew. The night he watched Derrick Favors and Wesley Johnson go ahead of him in the 2010 Draft? He Knew it all along.
” The marathon continues” – DeMarcus Cousins
There’s no question Cousins out of every possible All-Star player on both the West and East has been through the most this season and will continue to do so far after the regular season is finished. When he returns to the Kings he’ll be suiting up for his third Head Coach this year alone in the newly hired George Karl.
He watched former Head Coach Mike Malone lose his job just as he began to buy into the product and develop a relationship he never attempted to have with Paul Westphal or Keith Smart, and then he watched as reports surfaced from the local media that Cousin’s agents were holding up the deal to bring Karl into Sacramento.
After averaging a double-double in the first half of the season he saw Tim Duncan get the nod from the coaches over him for a reserve spot on the West’s All-Star team. It was only after Adam Silver made him a replacement for the injured Kobe Bryant did Cousins find his long awaited validation.
Be it through Kobe Bryant’s injury or any other scenario, Cousins finally has vindication for what he’s had to survive this season and in his past. He doesn’t need what ifs, injuries, and any other technicalities thrown out to justify his spot.
Cousins is a definite All-Star to anybody who knows basketball. No question he earned this spot through sheer toughness, determination, and ability to let others opinions bounce off him like water sliding off an umbrella.
Even if it’s for only one week, Cousins could probably cared less. For one week Cousins was able to finally let the guard that has been used as a force field to detract the slurs, negativity, and judgment from others to just simply have fun. He finally is recognized as one of the NBA’s elites, a club that no one just walks into or is allowed in. Above all in what has been one of the most turbulent years of his career Cousins can finally breathe and relax.
Smile big fella, you earned this one.