Kings' Cousins showcases developing 3-point range vs. Clippers
As a 6-foot-11, 270-pound big man, Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins has the size to bully his way around the basket and get whatever he wants at the rim, whenever he so pleases.
That's not good enough for the 2015 All-Star, though, with Boogie now taking his game to the perimeter, adding a 3-point shot to an already profound basketball repertoire.
The Los Angeles Clippers got a first-hand look Wednesday evening at just how far Cousins has come as a long-range shooter, with the 25-year-old knocking down four of his five attempts from behind the arc in a 111-104 loss.
Cousins had only attempted 15 total 3-pointers over the past two seasons combined, making two. In fact, for his entire career, Boogie has only hit 11 shots from that area of the floor.
2014-15 Shot Chart
His proficiency from 3-point territory didn't go unnoticed by Clippers center DeAndre Jordan, who respected Cousins' range on a night when it seemed like he couldn't miss from 22 feet and beyond.
DeAndre Jordan out there biting on DeMarcus Cousins 3-point pump fakes. This is life.
— Aaron Bruski (@aaronbruski) October 29, 2015
Cousins led the Kings in scoring with 32 points, chipping in 13 rebounds, three assists, and eight turnovers in 35 minutes of action before fouling out.
A career 38.8 percent shooter from between 16-23 feet, Cousins already had a solid base to work from in terms of extending his range just a tad further. It's a sign of the times in the NBA for men of his stature to move away from the paint and keep defenders honest as consistent shooters.
Boogie isn't going to be left in the dust in that regard.