Four-time NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins has signed with the Selenge Bodons of the Mongolian Basketball League for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
Cousins, now 34, has had a prolific career that began when he was selected fifth overall in the 2010 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings. Over 11 NBA seasons, he averaged an impressive 19.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game, establishing himself as one of the most dominant big men of his era. His journey took him through franchises such as the New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors, and Denver Nuggets, among others.
Despite battling injuries in his later years, Cousins continued to contribute meaningfully to every team he joined. After leaving the NBA, Cousins embarked on an international basketball journey, playing in Taiwan, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. He made headlines last year in Taiwan’s T1 League, where he led the Taiwan Beer Leopards to a championship and was named Finals MVP, averaging 25.3 points and 14.8 rebounds during the series.
The Selenge Bodons, a team making their debut in the Mongolian Basketball League this season, have already made a significant mark by securing 11 wins and climbing to second place in the league standings. The addition of Cousins is a strategic move by team owner Naranbaatar Lunden, who had promised to bring an NBA-caliber player to Mongolia to bolster the team’s championship aspirations.
Cousins’ arrival not only elevates the Bodons’ competitiveness but also brings unprecedented attention to Mongolian basketball on an international scale.
