Happy Birthday, DeMarcus Cousins! Watch The 10 Best Plays Of His NBA Career

DeMarcus Cousins turned 23 years old today. That’s incredible when you think about these numbers: 12th in the NBA in per-minute scoring, seventh in rebounding rate and a solid PER number despite having to consistently create his own shot in a faulty Sacramento offensive system.

The Kings are still a really bad team, and Cousins is developing a not-so-lovable on-court rep, but he’s still one of the most intriguing talents in the NBA, a force of nature that hasn’t come into his own yet.

Cousins might be celebrating his birthday on vacation right now. We’re going to do things a bit differently. Here are the 10 best plays so far of his young NBA career.

*** *** ***

10. DMC Packs One On HAMED HADDADI’s Head
This makes me feel like I’m watching a video game. Haddadi probably feels the same way.

9. DMC Goes Between MARIO CHALMERS’ Legs
Okay, we have to dip this one a few points just because Cousins obviously traveled after retrieving the ball. The move wasn’t completely clean, either, but that’s okay because DMC cleaned it up and pulled it off another time against Atlanta. You’ll be seeing more of this move later…

8. DMC Splits The Double And Goes Reverse
Miami, known for their pressure and trapping defense, can’t do anything with Cousins. LeBron and Udonis Haslem are both left grabbing at air, and Cousins finishes on the other side with a powerful three-point play.

7. DMC With The Dish
It’s a little scary how much this reminds me of some of the best passers in the NBA. Cousins is 6-11 and close to 275 pounds. He should not be able to do this.

6. DMC On JEREMY TYLER
Sometimes, Cousins can make it look too easy. How many big men can combine this level of quickness, hand and ball skills and power?

5. DMC Crosses Up MARCUS CAMBY
Camby barely moved on this play. I’m not sure if it was the crossover that did him in or if it’s just a consequence of being old. Either way, Cousins made out like Chris Webber here.

4. DMC Puts AMIR JOHNSON To Bed
With the way he screams after this vicious putback, it’s not surprising that Cousins picked up a technical foul. They should’ve thrown him out for this one: one T for the scream and another for the disintegration of Amir Johnson.

3. DMC Goes Right Through DERRICK FAVORS
One of the first major pieces I ever wrote was a profile feature on two high schoolers named Cousins and Favors. They came up in the same class, two of the best big men in the country with super differing games. Cousins was loud and boisterous over the phone, and he played like it too. Favors was the exact opposite, never saying more than two sentences at a time and giving only glimpses of his immense talent during games. I’d say both turned out alright… Cousins just got the better of him here.

2. DMC Dunks On DANNY GREEN
Danny Green is still feeling this one. Cousins puts it all together here… playing defense, leading the break and then finishing through the foul. Unreal.

1. DMC Dribbles Between JEFF TEAGUE’s Legs
Cousins has a knack for doing this, but he pulls it off so perfectly here that this play HAS to be No. 1.

What do you think?

Follow Sean on Twitter at @SEANesweeney.

Follow Dime on Twitter at @DimeMag.

Become a fan of Dime Magazine on Facebook HERE.

×