When the 2015 NBA All-Star Game tips off on 15 February at Madison Square Garden in New York, Sacramento Kings centre DeMarcus Cousins will be on the spotlight for a number of reasons.
Cousins did not receive enough fan votes for the game starting line-ups.
Then, when head coaches announced the reserves, Cousins was left out.
However, with Kobe Bryant out after undergoing a season-ending surgery to repair his torn right rotator cuff, NBA Commissionaire Adam Silver used his right to select a replacement for Bryant – for the second consecutive year – and Cousins saw a dream of playing among the top performers become true.
Here’s a profile on Cousins, one of the games true enigmatic figures
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, who won the Rookie of the Year last season and was tipped favourite to replace Bryant, got snubbed.
Lillard felt disrespected for the decision of being left out, and Silver suggested the possibility of increasing the All-Star rosters from the current 12 to 15 in the future.
“I didn’t like having to make that choice, and I wish I had another slot for Damian, because I think he’s so deserving of being an All-Star as well,” Silver said to ESPN.
“Of course, there’s a fan vote for the starters and then the coaches choose the reserves. And DeMarcus was very high up on the coaches’ vote, so that had a strong influence on me. And I think, ultimately, I deferred to them.”
Over the course of the past decade, East and West won five wins apiece, and Cousins will replace a man who scooped the All-Star Game MVP award on three occasions since 2005.
Even though the West is known for its competitiveness, the East roster has what it takes to come up with a win.
Last year’s All-Star MVP Kyrie Irving is back in the East to team-up with LeBron James, who won the trophy in 2006 and 2008, respectively.
Cousins, considered one of the best big men in modern NBA, brings presence in the painted area, however, it’s the West backcourt, led by Stephen Curry and James Harding coming off the bench that could do the damage.
No matter what is at stake, Cousins has one plan in mind when Silver visits Sacramento on Tuesday.
“I’m going to give him a hug as well,” Cousins joked with a wide smile.
Steve Kerr, the West coach, will choose from a roster that includes Houston’s James Harden and Golden State’s Klay Thompson, who replaces Bryant in the starting line-up.
“It’s an incredible feeling,” Cousins recalled.
“I still haven’t really grasped the part of me making it. I walk in my house, friends and family go crazy, but I don’t know – I thought after I made it, I would feel special, like I had super powers or something. But I feel the same.
“Hopefully this can be the start to something – I know it’s an individual award – but hopefully it can spark something within out team.”
“It’s an incredible honour. I worked hard to get it and I’m glad this day has come,” he admitted.”
Cousins becomes Sacramento’s first All-Star since Brad Miller and Peja Stojakovic in 2004
