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Draymond: Cousins is 'the best big man in the game hands down'

Dylan Martinez / REUTERS

After spending time together as teammates during last summer's Olympic Games, Draymond Green is fully aware of just how talented a player Sacramento Kings big man DeMarcus Cousins really is.

"I think DeMarcus is the best center in the game," Green told ESPN's Ethan Sherwood Strauss. "I think a lot of times people don't give him that credit. And a part of it is they try to downplay his status because of his reputation or getting technical fouls or things like that. He is the best big man in the game hands down."

Cousins is in the midst of his best season as a pro, averaging career-highs in points (28.1), rebounds (9.9), and assists (3.9), while shooting 44.9 percent from the floor.

While Cousins has always been able to dominant inside, the 26-year-old has added a new element to his game over the past couple seasons, developing a 3-point stroke that has become more than dependable.

"It's always interesting to watch, interesting to play against, interesting to play with, because he's so incredibly talented," Green said. "He's skilled. He can shoot the 3 now; over the last couple years he added that to his game.

"He's always really had the midrange, he's taking guys off the dribble, he's pushing it full court, getting to the hole, getting and-1s, go to the post. He's dominant. He's an incredible player, and he continues to get better year in and year out, regardless of what credit people try to take from him, try not necessarily give him."

The pair of big men squared off against one another on Sunday night, with Green's Warriors ultimately coming out on top.

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