DeMarcus Cousins invited to Team USA minicamp
Patrick Patterson celebrates with DeMarcus Cousins (15) after Cousins made a basket in the last few minutes of the second half of UK’s 58-56 win over Vanderbilt at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville on Saturday, Feb. 20. 2010. File photo.
June 10, 2013
By Brett Bibbins | @BBibbins_Kernel
Before last summer’s London Olympics, USA Basketball put together a select team to practice against the USA Olympic squad.
DeMarcus Cousins was on that select team but did not receive positive feedback from Team USA Chairman Jerry Colangelo.
Colangelo had said that Cousins had a bit of growing up to do and was quoted by saying, “He needs to mature as a person and as a player if he’s going to have an outstanding NBA career.”
Despite what happened last summer, Cousins has been invited to Team USA’s minicamp in July.
“You bury the past and go forward, “Colangelo said to Yahoo! Sports. “He’s invited and he’s definitely on the list. New year, new summer, new opportunity.”
Cousins started 74 of the 75 games he played for the Sacramento Kings in 2012-13, averaging 17.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game.
After his helping UK to the Elite Eight as a freshman in 2009-10, Cousins declared for the 2010 NBA Draft and was selected by Sacramento with the fifth overall pick.
