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Put "WEST" Across His Chest, Why DeMarcus Deserves to be an All-Star

Tomorrow the NBA All-star reserves will be announced and I firmly believe that DeMarcus Cousins will finally get that honor that has eluded him the last couple of seasons.  In the Sacramento Era there have only been 5 players that have been able to represent the Kings in the league's showcase game.  If DeMarcus gets the nod he would join Mitch Richmond, Chris Webber, Vlade Divac, Peja Stojakovic and Brad Miller.  It has been over a decade since the Kings have had someone in the All-Star game.

The fact that we can even debate if DeMarcus is the best big man in the NBA proves the point that he is one of the leagues best players.  The statistics also back up that thought. Cousins is 4th in the NBA in scoring, 3rd in rebounding, 12th in blocks, and 3rd in double-doubles.  It shouldn't be all about stats, but sometimes you just can't ignore the numbers.  There hasn't been a player in the NBA that has averaged 24 points and 12 rebounds and not made the All-Star game.

How about his peers?  Dirk Nowitzki said, "Of course he should be an All-Star" when referring to Cousins.  Rajon Rondo loves him some DeMarcus, " I don't know what the definition of an All-Star is if he doesn't make it. He should be the first guy selected by the coaches. The Kings have the best young player in the game."

The coaches, who will be making the selections by the way, have been impressed too.  Scott Brooks said, "he's a great player. He's playing as well as any big in the NBA. He is doing things that bigs haven't been doing in this league in a long time."  Joining Brooks in the praise was head coach Brian Shaw of Denver, "in my estimation he is the best center in the league."

The win total would be about the only reason to knock DeMarcus.  The Kings have struggled but they would be an absolute wreck without the big fella.  Mitch Richmond made many all-star teams with losing records, because there was a time when he was widely acknowledged as the 2nd best shooting guard in the NBA behind Michael Jordan.  Now he is a Hall of Famer, a multi year All-Star and a Sacramento Kings legend.  It is time for DeMarcus to get the reward of what he has done this season and previous seasons too.  It has to happen once and then "our perception" will become everyone's reality.  Put "West" across his chest and put DMC in NYC.

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