DeMarcus Cousins had some difficulty with Team USA last year while he was a member of the "Select Team" scrimmaging against the actual Olympians. All of that difficulty is apparently water under the bridge, however, as it sounds as though Cousins has earned a second chance at donning the red, white and blue in international competition.
DeMarcus Cousins receives invite to Team USA minicamp
Cousins was criticized by USA Basketball’s chairman last year because he had some “growing up to do,” but the Sacramento Kings star is being given a second chance this summer.
Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE
Cousins was famously lambasted last year by USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo, but Colangelo told Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski that Cousins will be given a second chance this summer:
“You bury the past and go forward,” Colangelo said. “He’s invited and he’s definitely on the list. New year, new summer, new opportunity.”
There's no doubt that Cousins has the talent to be a difference-maker for Team USA, but the on- and off-court issues always seem to come up before talent evaluators get to the part about the Sacramento Kings' star being one of the more gifted big men currently playing in the NBA.
If Cousins and Team USA can get past the “other stuff,” though, this could be a very good thing for both sides going forward.
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