DeMarcus Cousins hasn’t gotten along with Chris Paul. That’s been clear for a while now.
If you want an update, their feud hasn’t been resolved.
Cousins, speaking with Bill Simmons of Grantland, was talking about Blake Griffin when the Kings center turned the discussion to Paul.
- Simmons: “I thought you guys had a little beef, right?”
- Cousins: “Nah.”
- Simmons: “Nothing?”
- Cousins: “Just a little rivalry, but I don’t have a problem with Blake.”
- Simmons: “Didn’t you guys almost get in a fight once?”
- Cousins: “No.”
- Simmons: “Altercation? Argument?”
- Cousins: “No.”
- Simmons: “Nothing?”
- Cousins: “No.”
- Simmons: “You sure? I feel like I was at a game where that might have happened.”
- Cousins: “No.”
- Simmons: “There was some talking?”
- Cousins: “Probably me and CP, but not me and Blake. I don’t have a problem with Blake.”
- Simmons: “Oh, you’re one of the guys who doesn’t like – there’s a lot of guys who CP kind of bugs.”
- Cousins: “Yeah, I dislike CP a lot.”
- Simmons: “CP does a lot of talking.”
- Cousins: “I know.”
- Simmons: What if you saw him off the court? You’d be OK with him, right?”
- Cousins: “I don’t have a problem.”
- Simmons: “The good news is you’re like 12 inches taller than him if you ever have – he’s like 5-10.”
- Cousins: “I know. That’s usually how it goes. It’s the small ones.””
- Simmons: “Could you play with somebody like that, who’s just like a Chihuahua, just barking at everybody for three hours?”
- Cousins: “Yeah, because I’m the same way.”
I love that Cousins essentially admits that he dislikes Paul because they play for different teams. That’s really the root of the whole issue. Put them on the same team, and they’d be best buds. Now, though, there’s nothing to link them.
Later, the conversation turns to another polarizing player, Rajon Rondo.
- Simmons: So you think Rondo is the best point guard in the league?
- Cousins: Absolutely.
- Simmons: How much of that has to do with the fact that you and Chris Paul don’t like each other that much.
- Cousins: Nothing at all.
I don’t believe Cousins, and if he’s telling the truth, he’s wrong.
I’d definitely take Paul, Stephen Curry and Russell Westbrook over Rondo. With Derrick Rose – and Rondo himself – health determines the debate. Rondo is on the same tier as Tony Parker, and younger point guards like Damian Lillard, Kyrie Irving and John Wall could reach that level soon if they’re not there already.
But I do find Cousins’ fondness for Rondo particularly interesting in light of the latest rumors – free agents not wanting to play with Rondo and the Kings discussing a trade for Josh Smith.
Rondo – whom Sacramento previously tried to trade for – and Smith are close friends. Maybe the two of them could give Cousins the support he needs to actually challenge Paul and the Clippers.
