DeMarcus Cousins has a terse but demonstrative message for NBA legend Charles Barkley.
“I have no respect for you, Cousins says of the NBA Hall of Famer and the man he grew up idolizing as a youth from his home state of Alabama. “We have nothing to talk about,” Cousins added. “So, yes every time we see each other, there will never be words.”
Apparently, a few harsh words attributed to Barkley about Cousins’ game is what triggered all the trouble. According to BleacherReport.com, Barkley’s criticism of Cousins dates all the way back to when he was a high school star in Alabama. When Cousins declared for the NBA draft after one year at Kentucky, Barkley’s jabs reportedly grew even more stinging.
For what it’s worth, Barkley doesn’t seem to recollect much of any of that.
“I made a very conscious effort not to be too hard on him,” he said. “I said he a chance to be really good; I just told the reporters afterward that I was a little disappointed. Since then, I’ve also said he could be the best big man in the game if he’d just grow up. He’s never had a strong coach that held him accountable. I wish he’d had a Pat Riley or Gregg Popovich or George Karl or Doc Rivers that would hold his feet to the fire.”
Being that they literally come from the same depressed environs, Cousins can’t understand why Barkley would take such a hard line against him to star with.
“Coming up as a kid and hearing that from one of the best players ever to come out of Alabama, a guy people grow up looking up to, to hear him say, ‘Well, he’s not that good…’ I remember it like it was yesterday. Then, coming into my rookie season, you take up for your ex-coach and say I’m the worst thing that ever happened to Sacramento on national TV. Yeah, I’m going to remember.”
[Photo Credit: Matt Britt]