DeMarcus Cousins refutes Sacramento Kings claim that he demanded a trade – NBA Update
A day after Paul Westphal, the Sacramento Kings head coach, had said in a press conference that DeMarcus Cousins had demanded a trade consequently barred him from playing in the game against the New Orleans Hornets, the second
year centre has reverberated with a denial.
In a statement on Monday, Cousins maintained that he does not want to be traded and reiterated his full commitment to the team;
"I want to address my missing the New Orleans game Sunday," Cousins said. "I have not demanded or requested a trade. I don't agree with the actions taken but will give my sincere effort to put it behind me and compete the best
I can for my team."
Cousins has a history of eccentric behaviour, both on and off the court. He has been involved in many altercations with players, coaches and officials in his collegiate career and last season, he had a public fight with team mate
Donte Green. Sunday’s statement by Westphal clearly shows that both he and franchise have had enough;
"Everything that happens on a team does not become known to the public," Westphal had said last night. "This is how it should be. However, when a player continually, aggressively, lets it be known that he is unwilling/unable to
embrace travelling in the same direction as his team, it cannot be ignored indefinitely.
If the Kings do end up trading the centre, they will have to do it at the cost of giving up a potential superstar. Together with the rookie of the year 2009, Tyreke Evans, Cousin forms the basis of a young core that is expected
to make the Kings a genuine championship contender in the years to come. The burly big scored 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds on average in his rookie season, in which he was drafted as the number 5th pick.
With Jimmer Fredette, this year’s number 10th pick, and Marcus Thornton also in the roster, the Kings have already made a decent start to the season and in a 3-4 record so far, they have taken down the likes of Los Angeles
Lakers.
The latest situation however will certainly affect the momentum of not only Cousins but also his team.
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