Draymond Green on DeMarcus Cousins: 'Best center in the game'

ByEthan Sherwood Strauss ESPN logo
Monday, January 9, 2017

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- After beating the Sacramento Kings 117-106 on Sunday night, Golden State Warriors All-Star Draymond Green declared Kings big man DeMarcus Cousins, "The best big man in the league, hands down."

"I think DeMarcus is the best center in the game," Draymond Green assessed after the game. "I think a lot of times people don't give him that credit. And a part of it is they try to downplay his status because of his reputation or getting technical fouls or things like that." Green continued, "He is the best big man in the game hands down."

Sunday's game began with a Cousins dunk against Golden State, forcing the Warriors to call timeout 18 seconds after the opening tip. Despite a good start, Cousins finished 4-of-11 for 17 points and 10 rebounds, limited to 29 minutes by early foul trouble. Cousins also received a technical foul for attacking a chair after he picked up his third foul.

Green, who played alongside Cousins in the 2016 Olympics, continued, said of Cousins' manifold skills: "It's always interesting to watch, interesting to play against, interesting to play with, because he's so incredibly talented. He's skilled. He can shoot the 3 now; over the last couple years he added that to his game.

"He's always really had the midrange, he's taking guys off the dribble, he's pushing it full court, getting to the hole, getting and-1s, go to the post. He's dominant. He's an incredible player, and he continues to get better year in and year out, regardless of what credit people try to take from him, try not necessarily give him."

"He's the best center in the game," Green concluded. "Best big man in the game, period."

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