Sacramento Kings pair DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay have both been shut down for the rest of the season by the franchise given that they have nothing to play for.
READ MORE:
Cousins could be done for season: Kings consider shutting down star center.
Cousins says Kings season complete circus: Boogie not impressed with management.
Divac says Cousins most talented NBA big man ever: High praise from the former Kings star.
The Kings play the Denver Nuggets on Sunday before two games against the Los Angeles Lakers to finish the regular season, and neither Cousins nor Gay will play any part in those three meetings.
Cousins will sit out and start rehabilitation on an on-going ankle problem along with other niggling injuries, while Gay is still experiencing effects related to a concussion he suffered at the end of last month.
Gay missed three games after the initial problem arose, and after making his comeback he then sat out two more games and the organisation has opted to take him out and allow him time to fully recover.
Meanwhile, it marks the end of an impressive year for Cousins despite his also being interrupted by injury and illness, with the Kings big man finishing with averages of 24.1 points, 12.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game this season.
His overall play earned him his first All-Star call up, and he is rightly considered amongst the top centers in the league as he also improved his temperament and became more of a leader of the team despite distractions in the front office and at coaching level.
Meanwhile, Gay averaged a career-high 21.1 points as well as 5.9 rebounds and a career-best 3.7 assists, and so both men will hope to return next season and pick up from where they left to help the Kings to continue to build as a growing force in the Western Conference.
COMMENTS