DeMarcus Cousins Trying to Become a Leader By Not Screaming at His Teammates


With the help of his head coach, Keith Smart, DeMarcus Cousins has come to the realization that yelling at his Sacramento Kings teammates isn’t the most effective leadership tool. The young big fella is trying a different approach this season. Per the Sac Bee: “I’m trying (to lead),’ Cousins said. ‘Just in a better way that will be accepted more and accepted better.’ It’s one thing to be a fiery leader. But if that intensity disturbs teammates, Cousins might as well be talking to a wall. Cousins is a bright player, but his observations and messages are often ignored if they are shouted to teammates. It’s something Kings coaches and players have relayed to Cousins, who says he’s listening. ‘Sometimes you may be asking a valid question, but your demeanor and demonstrative way puts out that it’s more than it really is,’ said coach Keith Smart. ‘So you have to figure out a way, how do I communicate to my teammate?’ Smart said Cousins realizes he needs his teammates and could not continue to come off as adversarial with them. […] ‘A little thing (Cousins) said was, ‘Coach, I can’t be fighting with my teammates,’ said Smart, who offered his young player advice. ‘I said: ‘You have control over that. You have control over what your mindset is for the day. Your teammates won’t bring it out. The weather won’t bring it out. You have to keep it under control. And that’s up to you.’ Veteran swingman Francisco Garcia has encouraged Cousins to assert himself as a leader on the court. But Garcia also has cautioned him about his methods. ‘We talk a lot about that,’ Garcia said. ‘Me and Cuz, we talk all the time. He’s learning and getting better. Actually, (in training camp) when Chuck (Hayes) was running, he was helping Chuck and encouraging him. So with things like that you, can tell he’s getting better.'”