DeMarcus Cousins spoke candidly about his struggles to reestablish himself on an NBA roster this season despite a strong performance with the Los Angeles Clippers during last year's playoffs. The Denver Nuggets had Cousins workout for them before the Milwaukee Bucks offered a deal.
"Well, honestly after the way I performed with the Clippers in the playoffs last [season] in my limited minutes, I thought something would have opened up for me," said Cousins. "I proved that I was healthy. I proved that I could help the team. I proved that I could fit whatever role was needed. It didn’t necessarily work out in my favor for whatever reason.
"Then Milwaukee came around. I thought I had found a home. Everything went smoothly. Another situation where I still don’t really understand that situation. They say it was for financial flexibility that [I was waived]. I’m not buying it. So, I don’t know. I’ve always been a firm believer everything happens for a reason, so this place [Denver] found me, and it’s been good. It’s been a good fit on both sides. They appreciate my value. It’s mostly been smooth since then."
The Nuggets had interest in signing Cousins before the Bucks approached him.
"Denver called before Milwaukee. And I worked out for Denver and then [general manager Calvin] Booth came and worked me out in Vegas. It was real quiet and hush, and two days later Milwaukee came in with a whole staff, it looked like. They worked me out and basically told me they were signing me after the workout.
"And I eventually asked them, ‘Did y’all come here because you heard Denver work me out?’ They eventually told me the truth and that was the case. And they wanted to get a deal done fast. But at the time when Denver worked me out, they told me, ‘We want you badly, we just don’t have the spot open.’
"Milwaukee came in and got a deal done quick. They put all their cards on the table, told me they needed me. They were even talking long term, and that’s why, like I said, that whole situation, it just didn’t make sense. What disappointed me the most was more so just going through my grind. For me, everything felt right. We were winning games. I showed that I’m healthy. I fit in Milwaukee perfect next to the guys that were out there. I put up numbers. Everything worked out. I don’t know. Just for it to happen the way it did.
"That same night that they cut me I ended up hurting my calf that night as well, so I ended up with a calf strain. I didn’t even shower. I didn’t even take off my uniform before they told me they were cutting me.
"It’s just that side of the business that people will never really understand. [NBA teams are] just brutal as f—. It’s brutal, man. And then the weird part about it, the part that sucks the most, they can give you whatever excuse they want. They can give the media, the public whatever excuse they want and then not even be the truth. And you’ll know for yourself that it’s bull—-."
Cousins never considered retiring after he was waived by the Bucks as the Nuggets almost immediately expressed interest.
Cousins was also asked what he would do differently to change how he is perceived and he said it would be to skip his predraft workout with the Sacramento Kings.
"What did Sac do for me? Besides say my name [draft day]. I did more for them than they did for me. That’s just being honest. Just being 100% honest. I had two owners, three GMs, seven coaches in seven years. I was there seven years. I had three GMs, two owners and seven coaches. Not much more needs to be said."
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