SI.com’s Sam Amick calls Sacramento C DeMarcus Cousins, “enigmatic”, while USA Baseball chief Jerry Colangelo might pick another, less diplomatic term to describe the 5th overall pick in the 2010 draft after reading Amick’s column. Blasted for his physical play during last July’s training for the London Olympics (“he fouled the shit out of everyone”, claimed Carmelo Anthony), Cousins insists that not only has he been misjudged, but, “I’m one of the best big men in this game right now.”
Colangelo told reporters that Cousins “has some growing up to do.” Cousins later approached Colangelo to discuss their rift.
“I didn’t enjoy it,” Cousins said of the experience. “I went out there, and … I’m not going to say I didn’t learn anything from it, because I did. But it was just, in my mind, another political battle. I learned more about politics. I saw the work ethic of the so-called elite in the league, and I took some notes from that and took that back with me. But as far as the rest of it? No.
“Honestly, the scrimmages were one-sided the whole time. To even have a chance, you had to play hard as hell. We were out there getting our heads knocked off, and if they’re going to play physical, then I’m going to play physical back. I’m not out there trying to start fights — just trying to stand on my own. But I guess the ignorance of people is they take it as being immature.”