Kings' Cousins: 'This is the year we turn it around'
For a player who's won over 30 games in a season just once during his six years in the league, Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins is overly optimistic about what the 2016-17 campaign will bring his team.
"I'm extremely excited," Cousins said about the upcoming season during his Elite Skills Camp on Thursday. "I'm very confident this is going to be our year. This is the year we turn it around."
Cousins mentioned that his aching feet are doing well, and that he's in the process of getting into shape. This comes on the heels of what was his best season to date, averaging a double-double of 26.9 points and 11.5 rebounds on 45.1 percent shooting in 65 appearances for the 33-49 Kings.
The major talking point in Sacramento throughout the better part of the year was Cousins' relationship with former head coach George Karl, who was relieved of his duties in April and eventually replaced with former Memphis Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger. The two never truly saw eye to eye, with their toxic relationship spreading in the locker room to the other players.
It at least looks like Cousins and Joerger are hitting it off early, which should bode well for what lies ahead as the Kings look to return to the postseason for the first time since 2006.
The Kings were reportedly interested in testing the market to see what kind of value Cousins has in a potential trade, although general manager Vlade Divac put a rest to those stories by saying he won't be leaving this summer.
Cousins has two years left on his contract worth roughly $31 million.