DeMarcus Cousins and the Sacramento Kings on Thursday reportedly agreed to a four-year contract extension worth around $60 million. New minority owner Shaquille O'Neal, who pledged to mentor Cousins, likely played a major role in Cousins and the Kings reaching a deal.
Cousins, the mercurial No. 5 pick of the 2010 NBA draft, agreed late Thursday night to the four-year extension with Sacramento, according to the Sacramento Bee and ESPN. The extension doesn't include a team or player option; it goes into effect for the 2014-15 season and will keep him in Sacramento through the 2017-18 season.
O'Neal, who this week became a minority owner of the team, likely had a hand in both sides reaching an agreement. Cousins is considered one of the more talented big men in the league, but he's struggled with maturity issues. Having O'Neal willing to work with him seemed to play a part in Cousins' decision.
"DeMarcus is so excited at just the thought that (Shaq) is going to be talking to him, going to be spending time with him, going to be watching him, on the practice court, that he just can't contain himself," new Kings owner Vivek Ranadive told USA Today Sports. "When he first heard that (Shaq) was looking at becoming an investor in the Kings, he just texted me and said, 'Can I please, please reach out to (Shaq)?'"
Learning from a future Hall of Famer could be just what Cousins needs to reach an elite level.
"You hear people say all the time that he's probably the most talented big man in the league, so now if you've got that behind your name, then everything else must follow," O'Neal told USA Today Sports. "I'm going to teach him a few things to add to his game."
