Cousins' passion will be put to the test

Cousins' passion will be put to the test

By Ailene Voisin
avoisin@sacbee.com The Sacramento Bee
Published: Sunday, Jun. 13, 2010 - 12:00 am | Page 1C

The weight problems, the alleged attitude issues, the below-the-rim style of play have been documented. For teams evaluating DeMarcus Cousins for the NBA draft, these are legitimate concerns, though to varying degrees.

But this is the real question: How deeply does Cousins love the game?

If he loves to play – truly craves competition the way he used to devour hamburgers – then the center-power forward out of Kentucky will be a home run. If he envisions the NBA as a lucrative employment opportunity with a minimal workload, then forget him; the Kings would be best served if Cousins, 19, is off the board when they draft at No. 5.

"It always comes down to desire and intelligence," Geoff Petrie said Saturday after working out Cousins and Georgia Tech's Derrick Favors at the Kings' practice facility.

Other than a blip of hesitation about his explosiveness around the basket, Cousins has an extensive and undeniable skill set. He averaged about 10 rebounds in fewer than 25 minutes per game, scored routinely off lobs and putbacks and became increasingly effective from midrange. Among NBA types, he's universally regarded as a terrific talent. Among some NBA types, he's seen as someone who will mature emotionally and curb his enthusiasm for those sideline outbursts and mini-temper tantrums.

As for that big body and the tendency to get too big? None of that is fiction. The man is huge.

Yet except for an unacceptably high body-fat percentage (16.4) and a soft spot around the middle that was apparent when he obliged and lifted his jersey, Cousins is hardly a blimp.

At 6-foot-11 and 290 pounds, he has long, thick arms and immense hands. Much of his length is in his torso, and though he's not known for leaping ability, his strong core and wide hips enable him to establish inside position and control the boards.

"He's got the size to play center," Petrie noted. "He's got a natural position, maybe two."

And this is why the degree of Cousins' desire is paramount to his draft status: If he conveys a robust passion for his chosen profession and convinces teams with high lottery picks he absolutely loves to compete, his negatives will be minimized. He could be in play with Philadelphia (No. 2), New Jersey (No. 3) and Minnesota (No. 4).

He must prove he is not Benoit Benjamin, Oliver Miller, "Dinner Bell" Mel Turpin, John "Hot Plate" Williams, Eddy Curry or any of the other gifted big men who threatened to eat themselves out of the NBA, but more important, never seemed to love the game.

Intangibles can't be manufactured. For successful players, desire is as intuitive as breathing.

Players can change their dietary habits and control their weight. They can hit the weight room and turn baby fat into muscle. They can run sprints and improve their stamina. They can convince their bosses they are committed to winning and ultimately will overcome their weakness for burgers and fries (see Glen "Big Baby" Davis).

"All that stuff about me being the next Oliver Miller is crazy," Cousins said with a frown.

In a short media session after his workout, Cousins revealed a sense of humor, a combative streak and a preference for scrimmages over training sessions – and this can be a good thing. He says he was a "terrible, terrible" football player. He claimed to be a better prospect than Favors and disappointed that Favors' camp refused to allow a one-on-one scrimmage.

"I just love to play," he said forcefully. "If there's a game nearby, I can spend all day there."

Later, Cousins' agent, John Greig, acknowledged his client could shed four or five pounds, but he advises him to change little else.

"DeMarcus is a genuine person," Greig said, "and a bit of a throwback. He's not trying to make buddies out there. He's trying to win games. That's what seems like an edge, a bit of an attitude. And that's what makes him great."

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