Feb 8, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (middle) celebrates with teammates after his game-winning shot at the buzzer against the Phoenix Suns at Sleep Train Arena. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Phoenix Suns 85-83. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
We here at A Royal Pain know that the NBA offseason can move pretty slow sometimes. Although there’s Summer League excitement happening, it doesn’t last that long and plus people miss watching their favorite players play, not a league of guys who aren’t likely to end up in the NBA at all.
So I’ve decided to try to relieve some of the boredom by going back and watching one of my personal favorite players and far and away the best Sacramento King, DeMarcus Cousins. I’m going to go through Boogie’s entire five-year career and try to pick his ten best games out, so we can all marvel at just how damn good Boogie really is.
This isn’t just a scoring list either, by the way. I’ll be looking at all of Cousins’ stats in all of his games over the last half-decade and picking out ten games where Boogie really showed just how dynamic and dangerous of a player he is, on both ends of the floor.
Let’s get right to it, and start with a game from this past season that really shows the ups and downs of Boogie (although there are a lot more ups than downs to his game!).
Next: 10. January 13, 2015
Jan 13, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) blocks a shot by Dallas Mavericks center Tyson Chandler (6) during the fourth quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Sacramento Kings 108-104. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
10. January 13th, 2015
Opponent: Dallas Mavericks
Boogie’s Line:
| Basic Box Score Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starters | MP | FGA | FG% | FT | FTA | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
| DeMarcus Cousins | 40:29 | 21 | .524 | 10 | 10 | 1.000 | 16 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 32 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/13/2015.
Why This Game Is Where It Is On The List: It was a loss for the Kings, and Boogie showed the world yet again that he’s capable of filling up most of his stat sheet. Unfortunately, this game showed he can even stuff the parts you’d rather have him avoid. His 32 points were enough to lead all scorers, but unfortunately so were his nine turnovers and six personal fouls.
Boogie was forced to try to carry the team as the Kings would lose Rudy Gay for the rest of the game just ten minutes in, but unfortunately he fouled out in the final minutes of the fourth quarter and Sacramento couldn’t overcome Dallas in overtime without him or Gay.
Still though, he was perilously close to a triple-double (hint: there will be some of those later) and shot a perfect ten for ten from the free-throw line, so I felt like this game deserved a spot on the list, if just barely. It gets better from here though, trust me.
Boogie’s Highlights From This Game:
Next: 9. March 26, 2012
Nov 26, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) controls the ball during the first quarter as Houston Rockets forward Joey Dorsey (8) defends at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
9. March 26, 2012
Opponent: Houston Rockets
Boogie’s Line:
| Basic Box Score Stats | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starters | MP | FGA | FG% | FTA | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
| DeMarcus Cousins | 49:33 | 26 | .577 | 12 | .667 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 38 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/13/2015.
Why This Game Is Where It Is On The List: This one was another Kings loss, but unlike the Dallas game it’s pretty tough to find a way to blame DeMarcus Cousins at all for not pulling out a win. Boogie had a great double-double with 38 points and 14 rebounds, and also held his matchup Samuel Dalembert to just two points in the contest.
This really great Boogie performance is so low on the list merely because it’s so typical of him. A lot of scoring and rebounding is essentially expected from DeMarcus Cousins at this point, and games farther up the list feature either a great third aspect of Boogie’s game or a really impressive scoring/rebounding display.
Boogie’s Highlights From This Game:
Next: 8. April 13, 2014
Apr 13, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) drives to the basket past Minnesota Timberwolves center Gorgui Dieng (5) during the third quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 106-103. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
8. April 13, 2014
Opponent: Minnesota Timberwolves
Boogie’s Line:
| Basic Box Score Stats | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starters | MP | FGA | FG% | FTA | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
| DeMarcus Cousins | 37:28 | 21 | .619 | 13 | .692 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 35 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/13/2015.
Why This Game Is Where It Is On The List: In a win for the Sacramento Kings, Boogie was just a dominant force in multiple aspects of the game. 35 points, 15 rebounds, six assists and three blocks was enough for Boogie to lead his team in points and assists and lead the game in rebounds and blocks.
That’s called having an impact on all aspects of the game. Cousins’ scoring was also super-efficient, considering he managed 35 points on just 21 shots and was just below 62 percent from the field. His six turnovers are the only thing keeping this game from being higher up the list, but there’s just so many great Boogie games it’s hard to have this one at any higher than number eight.
Boogie’s Highlights From This Game:
Next: 7. April 17, 2013
Nov 2, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (center) attempts to drive past Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Douglas-Roberts (left) and Los Angeles Clippers center Spencer Hawes (right) during the second quarter at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
7. April 17, 2013
Opponent: Los Angeles Clippers
Boogie’s Line:
| Basic Box Score Stats | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starters | MP | FGA | FG% | FTA | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
| DeMarcus Cousins | 41:23 | 24 | .583 | 11 | .727 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 36 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/13/2015.
Why This Game Is Where It Is On The List: Huge double-doubles are kind of a DeMarcus Cousins staple, and this was a great example of a classic big game from big Boogie. 36 points and 22 rebounds is a good example of being a game-changer, something that Cousins obviously is.
This game might have been a little bit better than the next one on this list statistically for Boogie, but his unnecessary technical foul at the end of the game that would cost the Kings franchise player his first game of the next season knocked it down a ranking. It’s hard to blame Boogie too much though–losing must be frustrating, and even these great games from Cousins weren’t enough to get Sacramento the win most of the time.
Boogie’s Highlights From This Game:
Next: 6. March 27, 2015
Mar 27, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
6. March 27, 2015
Opponent: New Orleans Pelicans
Boogie’s Line:
| Basic Box Score Stats | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starters | MP | FGA | FG% | FTA | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
| DeMarcus Cousins | 41:00 | 28 | .571 | 12 | .583 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 39 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/13/2015.
Why This Game Is Where It Is On The List: Just another monster double-double for Boogie, which is essentially business as usual for Cousins at this point. The efficiency of Boogie’s scoring is always so good it seems to be common after going through enough of his game logs, but serious 39 points on just 28 shots is really, really good.
Logging 20 rebounds is tough for any player, but managing to score almost 40 points in the same game makes the feat that much more impressive. Couple that with Boogie having as many blocks (three) as he did turnovers or personal fouls, and you can see that despite the Kings’ loss to New Orleans that Cousins played about as well as he can.
Boogie’s Highlights From This Game:
Next: 5. February 23, 2014
Feb 23, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) drives to the basket against Denver Nuggets center Timofey Mozgov (left) during the second half at Pepsi Center. The Kings won 109-95. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
5. February 23, 2014
Opponent: Denver Nuggets
Boogie’s Line:
| Basic Box Score Stats | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starters | MP | FGA | FG% | FTA | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
| DeMarcus Cousins | 34:22 | 16 | .500 | 12 | .917 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 27 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/13/2015.
Why This Game Is Where It Is On The List: I have this game just barely breaking the top five of Cousins’ career mostly because Boogie really did it all. Cousins totaled 27 points (on just 16 shots), nine rebounds, five assists and five blocks in just 34 minutes in the Sacramento victory, showing just how versatile he can be.
I think that’s really what makes DeMarcus Cousins the kind of guy you can build a team around. He has shown that he can score, rebound, pass, steal and block shots already in his career–being that well-rounded is something a lot of guys never accomplish, much less by the age of 24.
Boogie’s Highlights From This Game:
Next: 4. March 13, 2015
Mar 13, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) backs up Philadelphia 76ers forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (12) into the paint during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The 76ers won 114-107. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
4. March 13, 2015
Opponent: Philadelphia 76ers
Boogie’s Line:
| Basic Box Score Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starters | MP | FGA | FG% | FT | FTA | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
| DeMarcus Cousins | 40:14 | 24 | .500 | 15 | 20 | .750 | 24 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 39 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/13/2015.
Why This Game Is Where It Is On The List: Whereas the game before this one made it to fifth on my list because it highlighted Boogie’s versatility, this game made it all the way up to four because of the brute strength Cousins showed off in another massive double-double.
He didn’t post many assists, blocks or steals (just four of all of those stats combined), but DeMarcus Cousins showed exactly why many Sacramento fans refer to him as the best center in basketball, putting up a monstrous 39 point 24 rebound game against a tough rim protector in Nerlens Noel. Boogie just happens to be even tougher than Nerlens, and about anybody else in the NBA too.
Boogie’s Highlights From This Game:
Next: 3. April 3rd, 2015
April 3, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) shoots the basketball against New Orleans Pelicans center Omer Asik (3) during the second quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Pelicans defeated the Kings 101-95. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
3. April 3, 2015
Opponent: New Orleans Pelicans
Boogie’s Line:
| Basic Box Score Stats | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starters | MP | FGA | FG% | FTA | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
| DeMarcus Cousins | 41:54 | 22 | .409 | 10 | .600 | 20 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 24 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/13/2015.
Why This Game Is Where It Is On The List: Double-doubles are nice, but triple-doubles are even better. This game is pretty hard evidence that when surrounded with offensive weapons, Boogie can distribute the ball as well as any big man in the association.
24 points, 20 rebounds and 13 assists weren’t enough to beat the Pelicans (who make two appearances on this list just a week apart), but it was enough to be remembered as one of the three best games DeMarcus Cousins has ever played. This list is honestly making me really, really excited for 2016. Boogie’s future should be even brighter than his past, as hard as it can be to believe.
Boogie’s Highlights From This Game:
Next: 2. April 3, 2012
Nov 19, 2013; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) controls the ball against the Phoenix Suns during the fourth quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Phoenix Suns 107-104. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
2. April 3, 2012
Opponent: Phoenix Suns
Boogie’s Line:
| Basic Box Score Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starters | MP | FGA | FG% | FT | FTA | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
| DeMarcus Cousins | 37:37 | 25 | .640 | 9 | 14 | .643 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 41 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/13/2015.
Why This Game Is Where It Is On The List: Despite my earlier claim that this is not a scoring list, Boogie’s career-high points game had to make an appearance somewhere on this list. In just his second season in the NBA, Cousins managed to score 41 points on 25 shots, shooting a ridiculous 64 percent from the field. Although I would be willing to bet this wont remain Boogie’s career-best scoring night for too long, it’s still impressive nonetheless.
He also totaled 12 rebounds in the game, which is easy to overlook considering the scoring output but also a really solid number. Can we make sure the Kings play on April 3rd every year from now on?
Boogie’s Highlights From This Game:
Next: 1. April 1, 2015
Apr 1, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) shoots against Houston Rockets guard (13) and Houston Rockets forward Terrence Jones (6) in the second half at Toyota Center. Rockets won 115 to 111. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
1. April 1, 2015
Opponent: Houston Rockets
Boogie’s Line:
| Basic Box Score Stats | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starters | MP | FGA | FG% | FTA | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
| DeMarcus Cousins | 38:42 | 25 | .440 | 6 | .333 | 21 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 24 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/13/2015.
Why This Game Is Where It Is On The List: In a group of downright amazing performances from DeMarcus Cousins, this one stood out to me the most. Did he end up with more shot attempts than points and have a few too many turnovers? Yes.
But he also managed a near-quadruple-double, with 24 points, 21 rebounds, ten assists, six blocks and three steals. Boogie was also close to an elusive 5-5-5-5-5 game, which is rarer than you’d think. Despite the Kings falling to the Rockets, Boogie was as good as I’ve ever seen him, and I think this was the best he’s played since joining the NBA.
Boogie’s Highlights From This Game:
Do you disagree with one or more games in my list? Do you have your own top ten Boogie games? Please share them with me on Twitter (@ARoyalPain or @TiWindisch) or in the comments section below!