In today’s Olympic championship game against Serbia, the United States basketball team came out victorious by a score of 96-66. However, this is the third straight Olympics that featured a former Kentucky Wildcat, Cousins (2016), Davis (2012), Tayshaun Prince (2008). Cousins was one of Team USA’s star players in Sunday’s championship, finishing with 13 points, a game-high 15 rebounds, two assists and two steals.
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Cousins joins Anthony Davis as former Coach Cal players to win gold at the Olympics.
Against Serbia, Cousins played with the second unit and was a key piece in helping spark a 14-1 run late the first quarter that gave U.S. its first lead of the game.
The U.S., however, stepped it up defensively early on, forcing turnovers on the other end that they converted into easy buckets en route to 17 fast-break points in the first half alone.
It was the first time Cousins had competed with Team USA in the Olympics.
The United States’ DeMarcus Cousins, left, and DeAndre Jordan reacted near the end of the men’s gold medal basketball game against Serbia at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016. Sunday’s championship between US and Serbia was the second time the two countries met in this year’s Olympics. They had plenty of close wins in pool play, including a three-point decision against Serbia. He had 11 points and 12 rebounds by halftime. He was the only player in the National Basketball Association to rank in the top five in both scoring (fourth) and rebounding (fifth).
Cousins is entering the prime of his National Basketball Association career. The Serbians also hassled them into poor shooting to open the game as they started 0-of-6 from downtown and shot just 7-of-20 overall in the first, including just 4-of-8 from the free-throw line.
In addition to ranking fourth in the National Basketball Association in scoring during the 2015-16 season, Cousins was among the league leaders in rebounding (fifth), double-doubles (sixth), blocks (21st) and steals (22nd). Cousins played as well as he has all tournament, posting 13 points and a game-high 15 rebounds for his third double-digit scoring game of the Olympics.
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Cousins was a double-double machine during his lone season at Kentucky in 2009-10.
