New Delhi: In the early 2010s, if you were a 6-foot-10 powerhouse with the ball-handling skills of a point guard and the range of a sniper, you wouldn’t be called a “unicorn”, you would be called a problem. Before the era of positionless basketball became mainstream NBABy the Golden Rule, DeMarcus “Boogie” Cousins is a disruptor, a big man who refuses to be tied down in the post.On the sidelines of the second edition of the BUDX NBA House event at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, the four-time NBA All-Star and Olympic gold medalist spoke to TimesofIndia.com about his storied journey, the evolution of the ‘big man’ archetype and his message for India’s booming basketball culture.
The evolution of “big”
For years, critics have urged Cousins to stay near the rim, close to the rim, rather than handling the ball, shooting from distance or creating offense like a guard. Today, however, the league is dominated by versatile giants like Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid, players who paved the path Cousins helped pave. However, he subverted the title of pioneer.“I wouldn’t necessarily say I was a trailblazer because there were a lot of guys before me who had a lot of versatility in their game. I think of guys like Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, Derrick Coleman, Tim Duncan … Kevin Garnett,” Cousins told the site.“But it’s cool to see the big guys’ skills being recognized. To label myself a pioneer, I think it’s a bit much because the guys I saw before me helped shape my game.”He noted that the basketball world has finally caught up with his style of play. “I do enjoy seeing the big guys being able to show off their full weapons and skills. It shows the evolution of the game. I would say it’s more popular now than it was before. In the past, it was more of a taboo. I remember as a kid, if you were over six and five, you were automatically thrown down low and they were trying to teach you how to jump hook.“
physical battle spiritual battle
Cousins’ journey hasn’t been without its dark corridors. After a career-altering Achilles tear and ACL injury, the fight became somewhat of a life-or-death matter.For a man whose identity was tied to physical dominance, the path back was a lesson in humility. “Find confidence in yourself. That belief, trust your body, trust your movements,” he added.“People don’t understand the ins and outs and work of coming back from an Achilles tear. You have to learn how to walk again. You have to learn how to run again. To go out a year later and try to perform at a high level… It was a big, big adjustment physically, but more importantly mentally. Regaining trust in your movements, your body…the mental part is probably the hardest part. “
Isiah Thomas and DeMarcus Cousins (third from right) headline BUDX NBA House 2026 in Delhi (ANI Photo)
“Understand the business first”
Cousins also bears the scars of the ruthless side of the NBA. In 2017, he was traded from Sacramento to New Orleans during the All-Star break while still wearing a jersey. His advice to the next generation is therefore rooted in pragmatism.“It’s just about learning the business early,” he added with a laugh. “Learn the industry before you get into it. That was probably a mistake on my part, just to find the next person and understand what you’re doing.”But the business side is balanced by the purity of the craft, something he witnessed firsthand while playing for Team USA alongside legends like Kobe Bryant.“I played with some Hall of Fame talents who just woke up and didn’t become Hall of Fame talents,” Cousins recalled. “It’s a great process behind the scenes that a lot of people don’t see. I saw firsthand how those great people became great. I just wanted to apply what I saw from them to myself.”This time basketball fever has gripped India’s capital, and Cousins has laid out the ultimate blueprint for Indian kids who might be told they don’t have the sport’s typical physique.“Well, number one, you have to believe in yourself before the next person can believe in you,” he asserts. “If your confidence is built by what the next person says, it can also be destroyed by what the next person says. So your confidence has to start with yourself, believing in yourself, and then confidence also comes from the work you put into the craft. Let the work, let the repetition create your confidence. Create your confidence in yourself and everything else will follow.“
