1st - I totally agree that the reward / money system in this country, and with pro sports is completely out of whack.  So much good could be done with the millions we give NBA / NFL / MLB players.  However, that is the world we live in.


2nd - I never said D. Cuz was not immature.  Shoot yes he is immature.  He is a 20 year old kid.  How many 20 year old kids do you know that are not immature?  This is where the comparisons to Dirk are way off base.  As you said, Dirk is a man.  D. Cuz is still a kid.


What I am saying, is that for a 20 year old kid with basicly unlimited income, he is not that bad.  He is well spoken, rarely has anything bad to say about anyone, and loves to laugh.  He has had no off the court problems that we know of.  For all the bad press he is getting, he is still averaging over 12 points and 11 rebounds per game.  How many other NBA pros are putting up those kind of numbers? 


What I am saying is that you cannot treat these guys like you would a 20 year old kid with no income.  If you had millions in the bank, then you would want some say in how your career progressed.  You would want some say in the company business.  This guy is no different.  He is not happy with the way the Kings are playing, and he is saying something about it.


He is still a kid.  He does not have the maturity to express it in the most constructive way.  If you are a good coach / GM then you find a way to relate to these kids.  We see it in all sports.  We have seen it from all different sports.  Would you be more happy if he was ok with the Kings losing?  If he just collected his millions, and kept his mouth shut?  If he was more interested in the parties after the game, than the Kings winning?   


Things could go real bad for D. Cuz here.  If he is beaten down, convinced to just keep his mouth shut, collect his millions, and play ball then he will find another outlet for his emotion.  That is where we see a lot of players get in trouble.  Their coach, the media, the fans all convince them they can not have any control, or emotion in the game they play, so they turn to the parties, the drugs, or other things as an outlet.  D. Cuz does need a mature person to help out here.  He needs a mentor and a friend, not a coach who throws him under the bus to make a point in the media!!      
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good move. other gm's thing they could get him for nothing, so they will offer nothing.  bench the  guy, tell the press he is a loser. , ignore him at practice. maybe  he will gwt the message. but probably not. 

To ChemEN3.... If I didn't live in Sacramento and see...LITERALLY... how immature this professional NBA player is, I might be inclined to believe you.  Whenever you need to employ a previous high school basketball coach to help keep someone in line...you are usually doomed.  As a Kings fan, it is hard to admit that our GM has little talent in evaluating players.  A veteran presence is needed...NOT a middle school.

Chem you are so wrong and markam is so right. ThIS is a great example of all that is wrong with the NBA and American pro sports in general. Why so people like you make excuses for these guys and enable them. They should be thanking the heavens every day for the life they have. Fans need to stop going to these games as I have for 6 years now. Millins to guys like Santonio Holmes, Ungratefuls like Cousins demanding trades.Have we all lost our minds in this country? Are we Americans really this dumb? Lets take the money these guys make and do something worthwile for this country. This is pathetic and any one who supports this is pathetic! 

ChemEn3, your statements run contrary to your argument.  You say he is just a big kid.  All the more reason for the owner, GM, and coaches to get him acting in a way that justifies their investment in him.  They may have drafted a kid but the contract implies he has now become a man.
As for your question, if I had several million in the bank would I let my boss treat me the same way he/she does now?  The key word is "let."  Cousins with millions or not does not get to dictate how his boss treats him.  If he doesn't want the millions then get another job.  Dirk Nowitski doesn't work hard because Mark Cuban is a billionaire and Dirk is a millionaire.  Dirk works at his trade because he is a professional, he is a man, and he wants to do this a long as possible.  Maybe Dirk wants even more money. 
The point about Cousins' millions in the bank is what?  Is it that he has no incentive to improve or his wealth means he doesn't have to listen to his coach because he is Demarcus "Look I'm a Millionaire" Cousins?  No, you aren't saying that. 
Lots of pros get big contracts and prove the trust that was put in them was misplaced.   Time for Demarcus to grow up fast and be an adult when it come to the NBA. 

ChemEn3, your statements run contrary to your argument.  You say he is just a big kid.  All the more reason for the owner, GM, and coaches to get him acting in a way that justifies their investment in him.  They may have drafted a kid but the contract implies he has now become a man.
As for your question, if I had several million in the bank would I let my boss treat me the same way he/she does now?  The key word is "let."  Cousins with millions or not does not get to dictate how his boss treats him.  If he doesn't want the millions then get another job.  Dirk Nowitski doesn't work hard because Mark Cuban is a billionaire and Dirk is a millionaire.  Dirk works at his trade because he is a professional, he is a man, and he wants to do this a long as possible.  Maybe Dirk wants even more money. 
The point about Cousins' millions in the bank is what?  Is it that he has no incentive to improve or his wealth means he doesn't have to listen to his coach because he is Demarcus "Look I'm a Millionaire" Cousins?  No, you aren't saying that. 
Lots of pros get big contracts and prove the trust that was put in them was misplaced.   Time for Demarcus to grow up fast and be an adult when it come to the NBA. 

Granted, I may be a little bias, as I am a Kentucky fan, BUT COME ON!!


Do any of you know Demarcus Cousins?  His year at UK he was great!!  The "immaturity issue" was greatly overblown by the media.  He was a fun loving kid.  He always played hard, and he never had any blow-ups with his coach or his team.  He did poke fun at other teams a little bit, but even that was good natured.


You have to remember that this is a 20 year old kid!!  A 20 year old kid with basicly unlimited income, yet he has no drug problems, no "possy" following him around, no "baby mommas" in every city, and no run-ins with the law.  Maybe the 50/60 something Westphal just doesn't know how to relate to a new generation of players. 


I watched / listened to many of Boogies interviews over the year he was at Kentucky.  He was always well spoken, happy, witty, maybe a little goofy, and generally a great listen.


These are very young millionaires.  You can't treat them like you would any other 20 year old.  You have to give them some respect, and some room to make mistakes and grow.  Think about it if you had several million in the bank.  Would you let your boss treat you the same way that he/she does now?


This is a very young team with a lot of talent.  They need a coach who can relate to them, not throw them under the bus to "make a point" in the media.        
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For a team that is in the re-building stage, they should be Pissed. Cousins is probably turning their locker room to hell.

Aww, that's too darn Bad! The Kings brought that Bad Apple, now eat it! See, this is what happens when you pick fruit that isn't RIPE yet. So many teams voted for the "One & Done" rule and its backfiring. I feel a little sorry for Cousins, he's in the Candy Store throwing a tantrum. We can hope that he matures, but what if it never happens? The NBA needs to screen these agents better to make sure that players are being chosen have more than just talent. NBA Teams need counselors and mentors with a checks and balancing system to help rookies with their transition. The NBA is GREEDY for young new talent. Waiting until a player does at least 3 yrs. should be mandatory. It can enhance a players life in the NBA and his life after the NBA. Now the Kings are saying No Trade for Cousins, that has to be hard to deal with from the teams point of view. Sad!