DeMarcus Cousins’s next basketball home will be in Puerto Rico, where the former All-Star big man is signing with the Guaynabo Mets of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional.
One of the biggest free agents in all of basketball, Cousins was the fifth overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft and was named an NBA All-Star four times. Over 11 NBA seasons that included stints with the Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Denver Nuggets, he has averaged 19.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.
Cousins won gold medals in 2014 and 2016 as a member of the United States national team, but until now, has never played in an overseas basketball league. He announced his decision to sign with the Mets on Tuesday via the Met’s official Instagram page.
Cousins pioneered the “modern center” role with his ability to handle the ball, post up defenders, and hit perimeter shots. He earned NBA All-Rookie First team honors in his first season, was an NBA All-Star from 2015 to 2018, and made the All-NBA team twice. He played just one collegiate season at the University of Kentucky but racked up accolades as a Wildcat, including SEC Rookie of the Year, First-team All-SEC, and All-American team honors.
He has a knack for filling up the stat sheet and has posted some of the most impressive lines in NBA history. In 2015, he joined Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor as the only players to drop 20 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists in consecutive games. In 2018, he became just the fifth player in NBA history to post 40 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists in a game. Cousins leads all active players with the most 30+ point and 20+ rebound games.
During his last NBA game, a playoff matchup against eventual champions Golden State, he notched 19 points in 15 minutes. To Cousins and many observers, there is no doubt that he still has what it takes to play in the NBA. But for now, he’s taking his talents to basketball-crazy Puerto Rico and a Mets franchise that is just two seasons removed from a BSN Finals appearance.
“DeMarcus is one of the best basketball players of his generation, and from a talent standpoint, he will be one of the best to ever play in the BSN,” said Mets co-owner Marc Grossman. “His ability to shoot and stretch the floor should be a great fit for the BSN’s fast-paced style of play. We’re excited to introduce him to Guaynabo and our fans.”
