It was announced yesterday that the King’s very own DeMarcus Cousins will be selected to play in the NBA All-Star Game, but for the big man, the weekend festivities don’t stop there.
Not only will Cousin’s be displaying his talents in the game of the NBA’s best, but will also be doing it on the court during the NBA Skills Challenge (per CBS Sports). You read it correctly.
The NBA Skills Challenge is a competition that is held the day before the All-Star Game takes place. Throughout this contest, the participants will be measured off their mix of skills in dribbling, passing, and shooting the basketball.
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Throughout the history of this contest, the majority of the participants have been players in the point guard position, but recently the NBA has changed it up a bit. Some examples were having Giannis Antetokounmpo participate in the contest two years ago and Jimmy Butler in last year’s contest.
Even though the NBA has shown to make this contest more diverse, it will be the first time that the contest will consist of a player that is considered a legitimate big man in the sport.
Although it is unorthodox to have a big man participate in this contest, isn’t DeMarcus Cousins the perfect player to break that drought.
Cousins throughout his career has shown to be more than just a big that can post-up and outmuscle opponents in the paint. When it comes to skillset, he is the perfect package.
He has the ability to handle the ball, as seen with many coast-to-coast fast breaks he has conducted in the past, and also has the ability to pass the ball through tight holes. Lastly, he has shown throughout his entire career to shoot the midrange shot effectively, and this year has featured the three-point shot to his already impressive arsenal.
If anything Cousins has shown to be more skillfully gifted than physically through his game, which is rare for a player of his size. The league has taken notice of this, and, therefore, has granted the nod for the Kings star to participate in a contest that has shown to be more suitable towards guards.
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When the news came out that Cousins would participate in the Skills Challenge, it probably was a surprise at first for many. But once you think about the variety of skills that Cousins showcases on a gamely basis he definitely deserves to be part of this contest, and hopefully he does an exceptional job in front of the whole nation to see.
Also noteworthy, Cousins will not be the only big man that will participate in this contest. It is also reported that Draymond Green, Karl Anthony-Towns, and Anthony Davis will be participating in the challenge as well.
Another fun fact is that Cousins will will be the first player ever to represent the Sacramento Kings in this contest.