Some of the most memorable moments for former Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins were spent with the team that selected him in the draft. Early in his NBA career, he had a very physical altercation, which he says was his welcome to the league. On Tuesday, he talked about his connection with Metta World Peace, a former celebrity who became quite hostile with Cousins.
Cousins appeared in FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back” and talked about a preseason game during his rookie year. The All-Star center said that the Kings played against the Los Angeles Lakers, which featured Kobe Bryant, Metta World Peace, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum.
“It was a preseason game and we were playing the Lakers,” Cousins said. “I went for a loose ball. This is when Kobe [Bryant], Metta [World Peace] was on the team, Lamar [Odom], Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum.
“I go for a loose ball and I dive on the floor and in the midst of diving on the floor, I ended up in a headlock by Metta World Peace as a rookie.
What was @boogiecousins welcome to the NBA moment?
“I ended up in a headlock by Metta World Peace as a rookie” 😂@MichelleDBeadle | @ChandlerParsons | @FanDuelTV pic.twitter.com/W7XPPtHdso
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) March 26, 2025
Cousins said he saw his entire life when the moment happened.
“My life kind of flashed before my eyes in that moment but I’m like, ‘Damn, I’m in the NBA now. This is kind of part of it.’ That one always stuck with me, a headlock from Ron Artest.”
During Cousins’ rookie season, World Peace still had a reputation that he’s a physical enforcer for the Lakers. The 6-foot-7 forward made a name for himself as a 3-and-D player who’s always ready to go the extra mile when it comes to being physical.
Cousins had a “villainous” reputation during his time with the Sacramento Kings
Cousins played seven seasons for the Sacramento Kings but failed to lead the franchise to a single postseason appearance. During his time with the organization, he was painted as a hot-headed villain for how he reacted to certain calls and events on the court.
However, the four-time All-Star revealed that he did not like the narrative about him being a “villain.”
“I do wish things could have been better because I was really passionate about winning. I do think I received a narrative that wasn’t me, and that can be easily confused between being a passionate guy and being in a losing situation. So I get it and I understand, but it just sucks that I ended up with a narrative that I don’t think I necessarily deserved,” Cousins said,
The 6-foot-10 center averaged 21.1 points, 10.8 rebounds and three assists during his time with the Kings.
Credit: Getty Images
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
