"I Belong In This League": DeMarcus Cousins On What He's Proven Since Joining Nuggets

DeMarcus Cousins scored a playoff career-high 19 points in Denver's season-ending 102-98 loss to the Golden State Warriors Wednesday night. Despite losing the series in five games, Cousins certainly made the most of his opportunities, especially in Game 5. In his four-month stint with the Nuggets, Boogie knows he's proven he belongs in the NBA.

"I'm thankful for Mike Malone... Mike looked out and gave me an opportunity and I just tried to take the best advantage of it as I could"

DeMarcus Cousins on @nuggets Head Coach Mike Malone giving him a shot. pic.twitter.com/rMUbs3YTTt
— NBA (@NBA) April 28, 2022

In five games this series, Cousins averaged 10.6 points and 3.4 rebounds in just a little over 11 minutes per game. He turned back the clock in Game 5, looking like the All-NBA center we came to know, and almost helped the Nuggets send the series back to Denver.

Cousins definitely has a lot of gratitude toward Mike Malone, whom he reunited with when he joined Denver in mid-January.

Malone and Cousins were together for a little over a season with the Sacramento Kings from 2013 to 2014. The two developed a good connection in their time together. That's why it was shocking when the Kings let go of Malone just 24 games into the 2014-15 season.

Cousins was initially with the Milwaukee Bucks to begin his 2021-22 season, signing multiple 10-day deals with the defending champs prior to joining Denver. The Bucks waived him in early January after 17 games.

Denver brought in the veteran to serve as a backup to reigning MVP Nikola Jokic. In 31 regular season games with the Nuggets, the 31-year-old averaged 8.1 points and 5.8 rebounds.

Cousins also said in the post-game presser that he doesn't know what the future holds for him. But with what he showed in this series versus the Warriors, it would be shocking if he isn't back in Denver next season.