 Get on my level. Get on my level. Get on my level. Too strong, way too strong. Go! Got it up, and it's stuck. Get on my level. From my money, the blocks are always fun. All right, he's back. Four-time All-Star. Two-time All-NBA. Boogie Cousins is here today. We got a Kentucky show. I feel like we've sort of become a North Carolina Kentucky show this week. I'm not mad at it, Boogie. But you did play a year there. You reached the Elite Eight. I'm going to say this at least in my mind. What was your, like, the biggest memory you have of that time? Man, I would say definitely around tournament time. You know, that's when the most excitement happens throughout the year. You know, it's usually when the most unexpected things happen. It was plenty of times, you know, down the stretch of our freshman year where, you know, we would really test it. Things could have easily went the other way. You know, my tip-in shot against Mississippi State in the SEC tournament was, you know, one of the most memorable moments where, you know, that could have easily went the other way for us. So that's something that sticks out just the different environments you play in during March Madness during our year. I believe we were in Syracuse. So we ended up playing in the Dome, said, and so it was something that, you know, we weren't accustomed to. The backdrop was, you know, a lot of us off, you know, only real Hoobas really know the difference between, you know, that backdrop. The depth perception. Yeah, that depth perception. So, you know, a lot of things came into play, but I would say the most memorable is definitely the SEC tournament. God. And DeMarcus, you were on that team with John Wall. I know how close you guys were are, knew each other before, even Kentucky. Tell me this, is it true he pranked you going to Duke and then just hung up? Man, John's such an asshole. But yeah, you know, you know, we thought about teaming up, you know, as youngsters and, you know, he played a nice joke on me right the day before. You know, John was, you know, a super hype player coming out. So, deservedly so, I don't want to say that in a disrespectful way, but deservedly so. So he was one of the last guys to announce. You know, leading up, you know, I thought we were on the same page. Well, at the time it was Memphis, actually, before Kyle left, but Kyle ended up leaving to go to Kentucky, so I automatically followed and John was one of the last guys to announce where he would go, you know. So, he called me right before the announcement, like, you know, I'm going to Duke and he just hung up. Worst prank ever. So, I called him Duke, I called him like, no answer, no answer. He finally text back. He texted me back, like, I'm just fucking with you. It's like not thought out at all. It's the worst prank I've ever heard. Boogie, I can't think of a school that levels up. I mean, Kentucky has legendary alumni. What's your amount of rush more of Kentucky players? Oh my God. You just got four spots. That's tough. Are we talking, like, all the time? Oh, yeah, forever, ever. Because, listen, four can come out of your group alone. That's a tough one, dude. You gave him a tough one. Oh my God. Because you got to think old school, you got to think the new school guys. I know. Oh, it's been so many dominant players who come through Kentucky, bro. You want to think about it? We'll get back at the end. By the way, just to put in perspective. We're not going to forget. But I'll tell you why it's unfair, Boogie, and you can throw it back at us. We asked Tyler Hansbro, his amount of rush more of annoying Duke players. That was a little bit easier for him to come up with. I'm sure. I'm sure. You're going back to Taiwan, the beer leopards. I love that, by the way. Your experience so far, I love the logo. What's it been like? Tell us some stories. Man, it's been amazing. Honestly, you know, they treat me really well. As I step into this next stage of my career and things like that, I'm not done playing ball. I still love the game with all my heart. I'm cool with experience in different places and different parts of the world. My experience in Taiwan has been incredible. The people there are incredible. They really love basketball. The fan support there is just unreal. I get to do what I love to do, which is play ball. So I'm excited where I'm at. I'm learning about different cultures. Things like that. The biggest thing I think I've learned is just realizing how much talent is around the world. I was lucky enough to only experience the NBA early in my career. I didn't have to go overseas. I didn't have to take the G League route and things like that. I was by default to the point where I thought the most elite talent in the world is specifically in the NBA. That's just not the case in the reality of the situation. My eyes have been open when it comes to the high level of talent all around the world playing this game. I'm appreciative of that part and I'm just enjoying the game. I'm going to ride off in the sunset and I'm going to ride to the wheels fall off. That's where I'm at right now. Are you hoping to make one more one last run to the NBA or at this point you want to play the sport that you love? I really want to play the sport I love. Obviously if the opportunity ever comes about that's something I would really consider. I'm also so content and so happy in this space I'm in right now. It's probably the first time in my life where I feel free and feel like a normal person. I'm really enjoying that part of life. Just being able to be a father every day has been incredible. That's probably one of the hardest tasks I've ever experienced just waking up and being consistent on a daily basis. It's a challenge that I've embraced and I'm really enjoying. To answer that question that's something I would really have to consider but like I said I'm super content where I'm at in my life right now. I'm sure you see the chatter though every time big man goes down they always mention you as someone that could sign somewhere and the speculation is always there online. How many teams do you feel like you could go and at least help improve? Be a guy that supplies some depth for which team do you think needs Boogie the most? I think I can help any team. If it's being in a better leadership type of role I got plenty of knowledge and I'm willing to draw knowledge to these youngsters. On top of that if it's a team that's really I should try to play for some I know my IQ and experience can help any team. When you look over the landscape of the league right now that's probably one of the biggest things that I think is missing from the league. It has become a super young league so the experience and the IQ of the game isn't where it was or what we're accustomed to seeing in the past and no knock to play or anything that's just the times we're in. So when it just comes to experience and bringing that into any team I think that's going to elevate any team in NBA. We're going to do a little memory lane here because at the start of your career six and a half seasons in Sacramento six different coaches which is crazy to think about never more than 33 wins. When you look back at that chapter what could have been different? Was there one piece that maybe had it been different it would have gone a different way? I've spent majority of my early career trying to figure out that exact question you asked and I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. What's that reason I'm still waiting to see? But I mean that's just how sports go it's not always about the talent sometimes it's the circumstances sometimes it's the environment everybody isn't blessed with the best opportunity but at the same time it's the equal playing field when it comes to making the best of your situation. And that's all I try to do throughout my time there so it's not much to really say I wish this could have happened or if this was done better it would have been that's hypothetical doesn't really matter so I made the best of it and shit I'm here now so so good. Back in the day you were traded to the Pelicans you had that opportunity to share the front court with AD. He's averaging 24-12 two blocks right now but still facing so much criticism why do you think that is is that a personality thing is he too quiet he doesn't defend himself ever why do you think he faced so much criticism still playing at a high level that he is? I think it comes with the environment obviously being teammates we wanted the greatest to ever touch definitely on the Mount Rushmore of players in LeBron James when things go back we all know it's a it's a list of guys that's going to be blamed before it gets to the best player on the team or one of the best to ever play and you know that's just the environment on top of that he plays for the Lakers they have a tough fan base they expect you were there Louis you know how to shoot you get criticized as a Laker it's a completely different experience being a Laker completely different experience you can average 25-12 and it's still not be enough that's not enough it's championship with Buss no matter the season no matter the roster, no matter the timing and that's just the territory that comes being the teammate of LeBron James because greatness always comes from him and the same thing goes with being a Laker so I think that plays a huge part in the criticism he receives and it may be a little bit of him not you know speaking you know eighties just not that type of guy eighties the type of shut his phone off and just not give a fuck which is you know it works for him right and you know it's other guys where they're going to speak up and defend themselves so and usually the more quiet guy people feel like you know they can go at them a lot more and like I said if it's for instance maybe a drakeman drakeman's going to defend himself drakeman's going to speak up and you got to never worry about getting his words mission screwed because it's going to come straight from the horse's mouth you know what I'm saying so it's just a different in personalities and like I said it just comes with the environment as well DeMarcus you reunited with King's owner Vivek Rana-DeVay at All Star weekend in Indy we saw the picture of Vivek Rana-DeVay posted what was that like are we going to see you at a King's game coming up it was actually cool man you know it was good to talk to him it had been a while we had a message a little bit over the years a little bit here and there but for us to actually meet in person it's been some years so it was cool to see him and talk with him he helped me put some things to rest I knew some things were done a little weird with my time there and he validated a lot of things that I couldn't you know figure out at the time you know I'm happy for that we're on the same page we cleared up a lot of you know rumors and things like that and you know he let the truth be known as to why things played out the way they did with my ad so I'm appreciative of that and I'm moving forward man we're on a clean slate we're going to figure things out great chance I do end up at a game so I'm excited and DeMarcus I know you went to the Warriors for what ended up being KD's final season there there was his Achilles injury there was the incident with Draymond during the year obviously the loss to the Raptors in the finals in six games what stands out to you most about that season man yeah it was a lot honestly but you know that comes with championship team so but for me it was the positive stuff out way more than any of the negatives which is you know crazy to say because it was a lot that season but just us when that five touched the floor and you know we were all healthy it that's probably the most fun I could say we all had playing basketball at this level and probably the easiest we've ever had playing at this level like seriously that's the best starting five ever in my opinion yes and I was small sample size but when we were all healthy it was ugly bro it was ugly and it was fun and it was like I said every night it was low key just kind of going through the motions and beating teams by 25 so it was a lot of fun and easy basketball and I've never been on the floor with that much Hall of Fame talent at one time like it was incredible bro so like I said I think the positive stuck out more than you know the little bit of adversity that we dealt with throughout the year so let me ask you about the young fellow Wimby having an incredible rookie season I still got Chet as my rookie of the year I still value winning and he's the second best player in that team I ain't gonna lead you Wimby you just did having an incredible season what would you rank him amongst players and are you a fan of his game what are you seeing from Wimby huge fan of Wimby man I what I see from Wimby is you know once again we're starting to like in real time see the evolution of the game once again and I think it's dope to see I think he's a high character I've never you know got the chance to meet him in person but I've heard a lot you know throughout you know the great he said he cut his phone off too at 9 30s don't call me after 9 30 I'm not a very smart guy that's a bright future a bright future but you know high character guy loves the game and that's something that's kind of unspoken about in the league usually when it comes to big it's not it's not a lot of bigs that love the game so the fact that he loves the game that's that's a good sign for him that's a fact too highly skilled I mean he has all the intangibles to you know sneak his way into that that Mount Rushmore so obviously he's still young in his career but incredible incredible talent and you know I look forward to seeing how his career plays out boogie we're up against the clock we will get back to you on your Mount Rushmore we're not going to forget I will never forget but we appreciate the time we're going to take a quick break your thing over there brother Antoine Walker when we come back it is a Kentucky we'll be back