In the early 2010s, a 6-foot-10 powerhouse with the ball-handling skills of a point guard and the shooting range of a sniper was not called a 'unicorn' but a problem. Before positionless basketball became the NBA's golden rule, DeMarcus 'Boogie' Cousins was a disruptor, a big man who refused to be confined to the low block.
The Evolution of the 'Big'
On the sidelines of the second edition of the BUDX NBA House event at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, the four-time NBA All-Star and Olympic gold medalist spoke about his storied journey, the evolution of the 'big man' archetype, and a message for the burgeoning basketball culture in India.
For years, critics urged Cousins to stay near the rim, close to the basket, rather than handling the ball, shooting from distance, or creating plays like guards. Today, the league is dominated by versatile giants like Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid, players who walk the path Cousins helped pave. Yet, he deflects the title of trailblazer.
'I wouldn't necessarily say I'm the pioneer, because there are a lot of guys who came before me who had a lot of versatility in their game. I think of guys like Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, Derrick Coleman, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett,' Cousins said. 'But it's more so cool to just see the skill set get embraced in the big man. To label myself a pioneer, I think that's a bit of a reach because there are guys I looked at before me who helped model my game.'
He notes that the basketball world has finally caught up to his style of play. 'I do enjoy seeing bigs be able to show their full arsenal and skill set. It shows the evolution of the game. I would say it's more so now being embraced than it was before. It was looked at as more of a taboo back in the day. I remember being a kid, and if you were anything over six-five, you automatically got thrown in the post, and they were trying to teach you how to do a jump hook.'
The Mental War of a Physical Battle
Cousins' journey has not been without its dark corridors. After suffering a career-altering Achilles tear followed by an ACL injury, the struggle became existential. For a man whose identity was tied to physical dominance, the road back was a lesson in humility.
'Finding that confidence in yourself. That belief, just trusting in your body, trusting in your movements,' he added. 'People don't understand the details and the work that go into coming back from an Achilles tear. You have to learn how to walk again. You have to learn how to run again. To go out there and try to perform at a high level a year later... it's a really, really big adjustment physically, but even more mentally. Regaining that trust in your movement, your body... the mental part is probably the hardest part.'
'Know the Business First'
Cousins also carries the scars of the NBA's cold side. In 2017, he was famously traded from Sacramento to New Orleans while still in his jersey during All-Star weekend. His advice to the next generation is rooted in pragmatism.
'Just understanding the business early,' he said with a smile. 'Gaining knowledge of the business before you're in the business. That was probably a mistake of mine, and just to look out for the next person, just understand what you're getting yourself into.'
But the business side is balanced by the purity of the craft, something he witnessed firsthand while playing for Team USA alongside legends like Kobe Bryant. 'I played with some Hall of Fame talent, and they just didn't become Hall of Fame talent just waking up and getting out of bed,' Cousins recalled. 'It's a big process behind the scenes that a lot of people don't get to see. I saw with my own eyes how those greats became great. Just trying to take what I saw from them and apply it to myself.'
Advice for Indian Basketball Players
As basketball fever grips the Indian capital, Cousins has a final blueprint for the Indian kid who might be told they do not have the typical build for the sport.
'Well, one, you gotta believe in yourself in order for the next person to believe in you,' he asserted. 'If your confidence is built by what the next person says, it can also be crumbled by what the next person says. So your confidence has to start with self, believing in yourself, and then the confidence also comes from the work that you put into that craft. Let the work, let the repetition create your confidence. Create your confidence within self, and everything else will follow.'
