DeMarcus Cousins has had a frustrating, roller coaster of a career. At his best, he was among the greatest big men the NBA had ever seen. He could pound the ball down low like a traditional NBA center, but he could also shoot and pass like a smaller guard. This made Cousins a very wealthy player, although the recent injury luck he’s experienced cost him a lot of money, too. 

DeMarcus Cousins all-star journey

Cousins first made waves during one year at Kentucky under John Calipari. Although there were concerns about his attitude that have since sprouted up in the NBA, his talent was undeniable. The Sacramento Kings took a chance on this when they drafted him in 2010 with the fifth-overall pick. Initially coming off the bench, Cousins quickly showed that he was worth that pick, even with the extracurricular headlines.

His star power showed during his first three seasons in the NBA, and he was a walking double-double. However, when the team gave Michael Malone the coaching reigns, Cousins responded with the best basketball of his career. He went from a 17-18 point scorer to a 23-point scorer while maintaining his rebound ability. 

By 2016, Cousins was a bonafide superstar eclipsed only by Anthony Davis when it came to NBA big man. Unfortunately, he was doing this all for a Sacramento Kings team that held him back in many ways. Despite Malone’s success, he was fired by the team before he truly got a chance to sign. Cousins butted heads with all the coaches before that and got especially heated next to George Karl. On All-Star weekend in 2017, the Kings decided to trade Cousins to the Pelicans in a package that brought them Buddy Hield. 

DeMarcus Cousins’ highs and lows

Cousins and Davis were arguably the best big men in the NBA, and now they were teammates. While this might hurt a traditional big-man, the team utilized Cousins’ guard-like abilities to make them a scary two-headed monster for the NBA. By 2017, the team had an offseason to workshop more ideas for the duo, and Cousins was having one of the best years of his career. 

Unfortunately, tragedy struck when Cousins tore his Achilles tendon. He was slated to be an All-Star starter and on the verge of a massive extension. Since then, Cousins has struggled to stay on the court. He signed with the Warriors after the Pelicans moved on and played in just 30 games before reinjuring himself in the second game of the playoffs. 

In the 2019 offseason, he was poised to reunite with Davis at his new home in Los Angeles, but a knee injury took him out for the 2019-20 season. The Lakers cut Cousins after it was clear that he wasn’t going to be ready for this season, although his relationship with the team could be reignited if he can get back on the basketball court in future seasons. 

Cousins made a lot of money at his height, and despite recent drawbacks costing him millions, he still has built a hefty bank account with his skills. 

What is DeMarcus Cousins’ net worth?

Cousins secured some great deals in the NBA throughout his career, although his injuries could not have come at a worse time. His last major deal was a $62 million extension with the Kings before his trade. That contract was on the verge of being tripled on a new deal when his Achilles injury happened, and while Cousins makes good money on his current deal, he likely will not recover from that setback. 

He enjoys his money with luxury mansions, and while he isn’t as ingrained in the business side of things like other players, he recently announced a comedy special that he produced. On top of this, Cousins is very generous with his money and donates lots of it to those in need. 

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Cousins sits at $37 million. If he can make it back onto a court, that worth will go up, but had fate not gotten in his way, Cousins likely would have a nine-figure value going into the final years of his career.