Stephen A. Smith believes DeMarcus Cousins would be a ‘top 5 big man’ in today’s NBA

DeMarcus Cousins missed the entire 2022-23 NBA season.

He wasn’t injured though. No team signed him and he wound up playing in Puerto Rico for the Mets de Guaynabo of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional League.

And unless things change before the start of the 2023-24 NBA season begins, it looks like that will play out the same way again.

Well, there’s one person who believes that if a team took a chance on the 33-year-old center, Cousins would be a “top-five big man in basketball.”

On the latest episode of Paul George’s Podcast P, the Clippers star sat down with ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith for a wide range of topics. The topic of Cousins came up as Smith was talking about players he respects, saying he doesn’t like the way DeMarcus is being treated.

DeMarcus Cousins, right now, would be a top five big man in basketball… He does not deserve to be in Puerto Rico playing basketball right now. With his skillset, his body, his strength, his basketball IQ, his shooting ability, everything, he would be a top five player. And I think that you got people in the league ostracizing him because of a personality he once had. Man, we all make mistakes and he is somebody that I think is going to be a better man for it than he was maybe earlier on. Don’t tell me that he don’t deserve a chance to close a book.

"DeMarcus Cousins right now would be a top 5 big man in basketball." 🗣

Need @boogiecousins back in the NBA asap! @PrizePicks pic.twitter.com/4O4PRzuFJt

— Podcast P with Paul George (@PodcastPShow) August 15, 2023

DeMarcus Cousins in Sacramento

Drafted by the Kings in the 2010 NBA Draft with the fifth overall pick, Cousins would play the majority of his career in Sacramento. A four-time All-Star, Boogie was at his peak with Sacramento, playing seven seasons with the Kings. During his time in California’s capital, he averaged 21.1 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3 assists per game

Following his stint in Sacramento, Cousins bounced around the league, playing for the New Orleans Pelicans, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers.

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