He proved his critics from high school and AAU wrong who questioned his ability to succeed at a high collegiate level. Now after being drafted fifth overall in the NBA draft after his first season at Kentucky, DeMarcus Cousins looks to show those who doubted him that he will succeed in the NBA.
Cousins was in Lexington on Thursday for Coach Cal's pro camp. Cousins spoke to reporters after the camp and described to Kentuckysports.com how he felt he played in the summer league this month. "I started off pretty strong, but the way I ended was pretty bad." he said. "I made a lot of mistakes out there, a lot of rookie mistakes. I've got a lot of stuff I've got to improve on, but I believe I played pretty decent."
DeMarcus averaged a double double in the summer league and was voted player of the month. Some in the media and NBA left the summer session saying that Cousins may be the best player in the draft. Yet that was odd to DeMarcus because several of those who praised him now where the ones who was questioning his maturity level before the draft. In typical Boogie fashion, Cousins had a message for those people. "Make up your mind,'' Cousins said. "You either love me or you hate me.''
Cousins likes the doubters. Proving them wrong serves as his motivation on the court. "You know how I play," he said. "I go out and play with a chip on my shoulder. Every time I step on the court, I'm trying to prove somebody wrong."
Demarcus says he is not going to get complacent. He stated that you have to work hard if you want a long career in the NBA. "Basically, you're your own business," he said. "You determine how far you want to go. If you want to sit around and be lazy, you'll be out of the league, and you'll be working a job 9-to-5. "Everybody's good, everybody's fast, everybody's strong. You gotta come to play."
Also, according to Kentucksports.com, DeMarcus hopes to play against UK's new big man Enes Kanter and some of the other incoming freshman before he heads back to Sacramento.
