DeMarcus Cousins to play in Taiwan
Signs deal to play with Taiwan Beer Leopards in latest international stint
The Taiwan Beer Leopards announced on Monday that they have signed DeMarcus Cousins, a longtime NBA center, to play in Taiwan. Cousins is expected to join the team in mid-January and will play a four-game deal over a period of ten days. It is yet to be determined if the contract will be extended or if Cousins will remain with the team after the initial four games. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the details of Cousins’ deal.
“We’re confident that with [Cousins’] all-around skills, he’ll bring a totally new chemistry to the Leopards,” team CEO Johnny Chang said in a statement, via ESPN.
DeMarcus Cousins has agreed to a 10-day contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards. pic.twitter.com/Yg507lq75U
— Soundtrack Sportz (@SportzTrackz) December 18, 2023
Cousins has most recently been a part of the Guaynabo Mets in the Puerto Rican Professional Basketball League. During the 2021-2022 season, he played for the Denver Nuggets but hasn’t participated in any NBA games since then. He played 31 games with the team and had an average of 8.9 points and 5.5 rebounds.
NBA Comeback still hasn’t happened
In the past few years, the 33-year-old has been trying to make a comeback to the NBA. He expressed his desire to be given a chance to showcase his growth to Yahoo Sports last year and even suggested himself as an option for the Sacramento Kings. Although he had a workout with the Los Angeles Lakers last season, he did not manage to secure a deal with the team.
Cousin’s last NBA season
Cousins was drafted by the Kings in 2010 with the No. 5 overall pick and has been selected four times as an All-Star. He played for the Kings for six seasons before moving on to play for the New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, and the Nuggets. Cousins has had to deal with knee injuries and missed the entire 2019-20 season while recovering from an ACL injury. During his career, Cousins has averaged 19.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.
In the past, the Beer Leopards have signed former NBA stars, including Dwight Howard, who joined the team after averaging 23.2 points and a league-high 16.2 rebounds per game in the previous season.