National Basketball Association

DeMarcus Cousins says he doesn't get the respect he deserves

Published Jul. 20, 2016 5:41 p.m. ET

foxsports

DeMarcus Cousins is a rarity these days — a big man who's a dominant offensive presence in a game that's trending farther from the low post. The Sacramento Kings center finished fourth in the NBA in scoring last season, averaging 26.9 points. But few took notice, thanks to another woeful season by the Kings.

Cousins has had enough of being the forgotten big man, expressing his frustration regarding his All-NBA second team selection to The Vertical.

"I don't even know what an expert is any more," Cousins told the outlet. "I mean, I had some guys, didn't even vote for me, and that's absurd. It's a joke. It really is. It's a popularity contest. It's the guys who like them, it's the guys they like, the guys they get to see on a nightly basis. I still don't feel I get the respect I deserve. But I'm going to keep grinding. I'm going to stick with it."

Cousins finished behind Clippers center DeAndre Jordan, whose defensive presence is unquestioned but is also limited offensively, in All-NBA voting. Cousins not only averaged nearly 27 points, but added 11.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.4 blocks this past season. He even added the 3-pointer to his ever-expanding game, setting career highs in makes (70), attempts (210) and percentage (33).

But Cousins' reputation as a disruptive force in the locker room has followed the former Kentucky star since the Kings took him with the No. 5 pick in 2010. He knows he's been painted the bad guy — a moniker that has been difficult for him to escape.

Earlier this week, Cousins was asked about the Kings' moves on draft night. Though he admitted what the Kings did left him confused, he said he would focus on what he could control.

"I do my job," Cousins said Monday. "I don't really understand what's going on. I just control what I control. I let them do their job."

His comments were painted as another example of him being a disgruntled superstar, something that has become a point of frustration.

"I'm trying to figure out what I said wrong. Of course, they've twisted it into something negative, in some type of way," Cousins told The Vertical. "I'm clueless. It's to the point now, where I don't want to say anything about any situation. Then I'll be the bad guy about that as well. Anything I do. Anything I do, it's ... it's whatever, man."