What DeMarcus Cousins brings to the Denver Nuggets

After being waived by the Milwaukee Bucks earlier in the week, DeMarcus Cousins has been handed an NBA lifeline by the Denver Nuggets. The team has given Cousins a 10-day contract, with the veteran big man surely out to prove himself worthy of staying longer.

Cousins has bounced around teams since his devastating injury in 2018 while playing for the New Orleans Pelicans. During that season, the four-time All-Star was averaging 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game, to go along with 1.6 blocks. He was considered one of the most dominant big men in the game and was often in the conversation for one of the best players in the league.

However, his injuries have slowed him down and Cousins has become a reserve bouncing around teams in recent years. Cousins has been searching for a championship for the past few seasons, joining teams such as the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, and Milwaukee Bucks in search of a role on a team that can win it all.

Now, Cousins brings his skillset to a very talented and young Denver Nuggets team, which will benefit from his presence on the team. Firstly, he joins the team as a 31-year-old and becomes one of the oldest players on the team, only trailing the 35-year-old Jeff Green.

His long tenure in the league and experience playing alongside talented players and leading a team will benefit the team’s younger players, especially young big men such as Bol Bol and Zeke Nnjaji. His experience leading a team as the superstar player means he can also offer advice to superstar Nikola Jokic and help the 2021 MVP further his development in the league.

Denver will get valuable production from Cousins off the bench behind their superstar Nikola Jokic. Cousins can score and rebound well, providing the team with another big body off the bench. The former star has been averaging a serviceable 9.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game during the 2021-22 season with the Milwaukee Bucks, with Cousins providing the team with a capable player to hold up the dirty work under the boards off the bench.

DeMarcus can also provide the team with great paint scoring off the bench, and a big man who can shoot a 3-pointer if the occasion calls for it. This means that the veteran provides a number of different options on the offensive end.

Cousins also gives the Nuggets a veteran who has already been coached under Michael Malone, with the two having a good relationship during his time with the Sacramento Kings. This means that integrating him into their system should prove easier than veterans that are used to other coaches playbooks.

While Cousins may not be the All-Star player that was in MVP conversation during his best years, he can provide this team with the veteran leadership and toughness that they need to steer their season back on track. His experience will also be beneficial for the young bigs on the team, giving Cousins a good chance to slide into a mentor role while still contributing to a team vying for a championship.