Report: DeMarcus Cousins to return to Taiwan basketball on short-term deal

Mar 19, 2024, 11:45 AM | Updated: 11:47 am

SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 26: DeMarcus Cousins #15 of the Sacramento Kings reacts after the Rudy Gay #8 of the Sacramento Kings made a dunk against the New York Knicks at Sleep Train Arena on March 26, 2014 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

BY AMILIANO FRAGOSO

San Francisco 49ers Beat Writer

It appears DeMarcus Cousins has found his next temporary home for playing basketball.

Reports surfaced Tuesday morning that the former Sacramento Kings big man would be returning to the Taiwan Beer Leopards to close out their 2023-24 season. The deal will reportedly be for a month and a half, giving Cousins a chance to impress in a limited role.

Rumors began to swirl on the deal earlier in the day, with accredited NBA insider Marc Stein confirming the news.

Four-time NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins has signed a month-and-a-half deal to return to play in Taiwan, league sources tell @TheSteinLine.

More NBA from me: https://t.co/LGN9cVpeGP pic.twitter.com/PBPVlosfbc

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) March 19, 2024

Cousins, 33, last played basketball with the Beer Leopards, appearing in four home contests this season. He averaged 22 points per game and 11.8 rebounds per game in those games, with further participation pending a new deal. That deal came to fruition Tuesday, set to return to Taiwan to help the team in the playoffs. The Beer Leopards are 11-8 this season, currently in third place in the T1 League.

DeMarcus Cousins was drafted fifth overall in the 2010 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings. He became a cornerstone with the organization, appearing in three All-Star games with the Kings. The University of Kentucky alum averaged 21.1 PPG and 10.8 RPG in seven seasons in Sacramento.

He was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans during All-Star weekend of the 2016-17 season. Cousins would go to play for the Warriors, Rockets, Clippers, Bucks and Nuggets before pausing basketball opportunities outside of the NBA.