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Stan Van Gundy on Boogie: 'He's certainly as good as anyone. I don’t know anyone better…’

From Dwight Howard to Shaquille O’Neal, Stan Van Gundy has coached some of the best frontcourt players the NBA has had to offer. His experience has certainly given him an eye for talented big men.

Ahead of Tuesday’s matchup between the Pistons and Kings, the Detroit head coach gave his latest perspective on DeMarcus Cousins following the team’s afternoon shootaround.

“He’s certainly as good as anyone,” he replied when asked about Boogie’s rank among the top big men in the league. “I don’t know anyone better. Shooting 38 percent from three, he can play off the dribble, he can pass the ball, rebounds the ball, he can score the ball down low. I mean, there’s just nothing he can’t do. He’s a super, super-talented guy.”

Kings fans have been treated to a career-best season from No. 15, who has seen his numbers jump up across the board. Van Gundy credits Cousins’ stand-out year to the Kings center’s ability to stretch the floor.

“Well, he’s shot the ball better,” Van Gundy said. “That’s the main thing. He’s shot the ball a lot better, and a lot more consistently from three, so that changes everything.”

Boogie’s diverse skill set provides a unique challenge for opposing teams when they face the Kings. Not many players in the League at his size have a comparable range of ability. With a wide array of tools in the post, he commands double teams from opponents. As a center that also has a silky-shooting stroke, ball-handling ability and agility, DMC gives his fair share of fits to the opposition.

“He’s a stretch 5, inside/outside guy,” Van Gundy stated on Cousins’ unique skills. “You just can’t run him off the three because he can put the ball on the floor or he can play in the post.

“This is a tough challenge and obviously, the guy’s averaging 28 points a game. That’s clearly a tough challenge for anybody.”

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