During the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, the NBA set a record with 46 players participating. One of them was DeMarcus Cousins, who was then with the Sacramento Kings.
Ultimately, the Americans won the gold medal in a landslide. But what happened outside the court came to light.
During a performance with Carmelo Anthony in Brooklyn at 7 p.m. Cousins reminisced with his Olympic teammates about how the team partied throughout the game.
"We were on fire ... we drank every day," Cousins said.
"We were drinking responsibly," Anthony said.
"Oh no!...I've never drank so much in my life," Cousins replied.
DeMarcus Cousins: "We were on fire...we drank every day."
Carmelo Anthony: "We were drinking responsibly."
DC: "Oh no!... I've never drank so much in my life."
Melo and Boogie on the 2016 USA team were partying hard throughout the Olympicspic.twitter.com/eYwCW6npZj
- ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 17 February 2026
It was during those Olympics that Cousins and Anthony united for a clutch moment. In the final moments against France, Anthony converted a pair of 3-pointers, while Cousins made some key putbacks for a 100–97 victory.
Additionally, Paul George and Drummond became an elite defensive force during the game against Serbia. It was his heroics that ensured the Americans came out on top 94-91.
Cousins played in the NBA from 2010 to 2022. In total, he played for seven teams, including the Kings, New Orleans Pelicans, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Los Angeles Clippers.
His most recent professional stint came with the Guaynabo Mets of the Puerto Rican professional basketball league Baloncesto Superior Nacional. He also played in the T1 League in Taiwan and The League in Mongolia.
In addition to the Olympics, Cousins represented Team USA at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, where the Americans won the gold medal.
During his NBA career, he averaged 19.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.
