DeMarcus Cousins joins Puerto Rican Professional league

Former Kentucky star DeMarcus Cousins is taking his talents to Puerto Rico, signing with the Guaynabo Mets of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski announced the news Tuesday morning, adding that the four-time NBA All-Star was hoping to find a path back to the league and believes his time in Puerto Rico this spring could help get him over the hump. A prove-it opportunity for the 32-year-old center.

Four-time NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins is signing with the Guaynabo Mets of the Puerto Rican Professional Basketball League, sources tell ESPN. Cousins, 32, will play this spring there to continue to try and find a pathway back to the NBA.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 11, 2023

Injuries derailed Cousins’ standout NBA career, rupturing his Achilles, tearing his quadriceps and tearing his ACL in a two-year stretch from 2018 to 2019. Prior to that difficult stretch, though, he averaged 21.1 points and 10.8 rebounds per game in seven seasons in Sacramento and 25.0 points, 12.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists per contest in two seasons in New Orleans. He was an NBA All-Star four straight seasons from 2014-2018.

From 2018 through 2022, Cousins played for five different teams across three seasons, averaging double-digit points just once (16.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game in 30 games with the Golden State Warriors in 2018-19). After his brief stint with the Lakers, he then suited up for the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers in 2020-21 then the Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets in 2021-22.

Now in 2022-23, the former Wildcat is waiting for his next opportunity in the NBA.

He scheduled a workout with the Lakers back in January, but nothing came of the in-person meeting. As the regular season crept to a close — postseason play begins today — Cousins turned heads with a quote on Kevin Garnett’s “KG CERTIFIED” podcast where he stressed he was still a top-three center in the league.

“Right now, I’m the third-best center in the league,” Cousins said. “I mean, I’m a fan of the game. I’m always watching. I’m always enjoying these guys talents and things of that nature. But the game is just in a different place from my perspective.”

And he’s now willing to make the move to Puerto Rico to prove he’s still got plenty left in the tank. From there, another shot in the league? That’s his hope.

During his lone season at Kentucky, Cousins averaged 15.1 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game before declaring for the 2010 NBA Draft, where he was selected fifth overall by the Kings.

It’s been an eventful 13 years for the native of Mobile, AL.