DeMarcus Cousins Named to 2014-16 USA Basketball Men's National Team Roster

SACRAMENTO, CA –Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins is among 28 players who have been selected for the 2014-16 USA Men’s National Team pool, from which the 2014 USA World Championship Team and, if the U.S. qualifies, the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team will be selected, announced by USA Basketball today.

“I am humbled by the invitation and opportunity to compete for a spot on Team USA,” Cousins said. “It would be a huge honor for me to represent my country.”

This season, Cousins is averaging a team-leading 22.6 points (.488 FG%, .721 FT%), a team-high 11.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.78 steals, 1.20 blocks and 32.0 minutes per game in starting all 40 games he has played in. He has recorded 28 double-doubles, including a streak of 15 straight, the longest in Sacramento-era history and the NBA this season.

Of the 28 players, Cousins is among 10 (Bradley Beal, Anthony Davis, Andre Drummond, Kenneth Faried, Paul George, Gordon Hayward, Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard and Klay Thompson) who participated this past July in the 2013 USA Basketball Men’s National team mini-camp and is among six players (George, Hayward, Irving, Kawhi Leonard and Thompson) who were part of the 2012 USA Select Team that trained against the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team.

The 2014-16 USA Basketball Men’s National Team roster includes: LaMarcus Aldridge, Carmelo Anthony, Bradley Beal, Tyson Chandler, DeMarcus Cousins, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Andre Drummond, Kevin Durant, Kenneth Faried, Paul George, Blake Griffin, James Harden, Gordon Hayward, Dwight Howard, Andre Iguodala, Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, Kyle Korver, David Lee, Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard, Kevin Love, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Klay Thompson, Russell Westbrook and Deron Williams.

The 2014-16 USA Basketball National Team coaching staff features USA head coach and Duke University’s Mike Krzyzewski. Serving as assistant coaches are USA Basketball and Syracuse University veteran Jim Boeheim, Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau and New Orleans Pelicans head coach Monty Williams.