DeMarcus Cousins returned to Sacramento for the first time as a member of the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday, and he had himself a game, posting 41 points, 23 rebounds and six assists in his new team’s 114-106 victory over the Kings.
Oh, and he also received a standing ovation from the home crowd after his pregame introduction:
[tweet https://twitter.com/ROSGO21/status/923741525103620096]
[tweet https://twitter.com/TimBontemps/status/923741318546833408]
Kings fans cheered for him again as he walked off the floor, but not before Cousins copped to being “nervous as hell” about coming back to his NBA roots:
[tweet https://twitter.com/NBAonTNT/status/923779651301916672]
Butterflies are natural for this type of situation—and especially in this situation.
Cousins spent the better part of seven seasons with the Kings. He had a tumultuous relationship with both the fans and organizations. Everyone knew he was talented, but they were never sold on him leading a winner.
And then there’s the manner in which everything ended. A lot of people expected Cousins to sign a long-term extension with the Kings over the summer. But the team pivoted and dealt him to New Orleans…during the middle of the 2017 All-Star Game…that he was playing in…and that was held in New Orleans.
So, yeah, Cousins’ ending in Sacramento was hardly a storybook one. His entire tenure there—marked by the absence of a playoff appearance—bore little resemblance to a fairytale. But it’s good to know that he and the fans are able to look back and appreciate each other now.
