Did John Wall Play with DeMarcus Cousins?

John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins are two mega-talented basketball stars who both played collegiately at the University of Kentucky. Their time together as teammates in the NBA was brief, but memorable. Here is an in-depth look at their playing careers and the intersection of their journeys in Washington.

The College Years – Lighting Up Lexington

Before achieving NBA stardom, Wall and Cousins made enormous impacts during their short college tenures at Kentucky under coach John Calipari.

John Wall‘s Freshman Season of Dominance

In his lone season suiting up for the Wildcats in 2009-2010, Wall led his absurdly loaded team all the way to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament while averaging 16.6 points, 6.5 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. He shot 46.1% from the field and 32.5% from three.

Wall took home SEC Player of the Year honors as well as consensus First Team All-American laurels. His explosive athleticism, court vision and ability to finish in transition made him a human highlight reel.

DeMarcus Cousins – Double-Double Machine

During his two seasons from 2009-2011, Cousins established himself as one of the country‘s most productive and physical big men. He averaged 15.1 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 55% from the floor.

Cousins was especially dominant as a sophomore, posting 15.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per contest. He helped lead Kentucky to the 2010 Elite 8 where they fell to West Virginia. Cousins garnered Second Team All-American honors for his efforts.

Contrasting Styles, Shared Competitiveness

Though they didn‘t overlap in Lexington, Wall and Cousins displayed complimentary styles that surely would have meshed well together. Wall provided the blazing speed and playmaking while Cousins supplied the interior scoring, rebounding and physicality down low.

Both players also possessed a fiery competitive spirit and rare work ethic that enabled them to lead their loaded Kentucky teams to championship contention. Their passion for the game showed every time they stepped foot on the court.

The NBA Journey Begins

Wall and Cousins made their NBA dreams reality in quick succession as top 5 picks. Wall was selected 1st overall by the Washington Wizards in 2010, with Cousins following 5th to the Sacramento Kings in 2010.

John Wall – Blazing Start to Career

Wall made an immediate impact for the Wizards, averaging 16.4 points, 8.3 assists and 4.6 rebounds en route to Rookie of the Year honors in 2010-2011. His speed and playmaking abilities gave Washington an explosive franchise point guard to build around.

Over his first 6 seasons, Wall averaged 18.8 points, 9.2 assists and 4.4 rebounds while making 5 All-Star games and an All-NBA selection. He signed a 4-year, $170 million extension in 2017 to remain Washington‘s cornerstone.

DeMarcus Cousins – Productive yet Volatile Big Man

Although he boasted undeniable talent, Cousins‘ early career also contained turbulence. He averaged 14.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game through his first 5 seasons with Sacramento while earning a reputation as a volatile personality.

Still, Cousins produced at a high level when focused, earning 2 All-Star nods with the Kings before being traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2017. For his career, he has averaged 21.2 points, 10.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.

Brief Reunion as Wizards Teammates

After completely missesing the 2018-2019 season with an Achilles tear, Cousins joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 2019-2020 but failed to make an impact. He was waived after just 27 games.

Cousins then signed multiple 10-day contracts with the Wizards in February 2020, reuniting him with John Wall and giving him another chance to prove himself. He ultimately stuck with Washington for the remainder of the season.

By the Numbers

In 13 games together on the Wizards, here are how Wall and Cousins performed:

The Wizards went 7-6 with Wall and Cousins in the lineup together, functioning well and battling for a playoff spot before the NBA suspended its season due to COVID-19.

Highlight Reel and Rejuvenation

Wall and Cousins appeared rejuvenated in their brief reunion, providing several highlight moments together:

• Cousins drills a deep three off a skip pass from Wall against the Nets
• Wall lobs an alley-oop to Cousins who finishes with a rim-rocking slam against Miami
• Cousins clears space down low for Wall to swoop in for a scoop layup versus Minnesota

For Wall, this was a chance to regain All-Star form after missing significant time with injuries. For Cousins, it was an opportunity to show he could still produce following his Achilles rehab. Both players embraced their second chance.

Battling Through Adversity and Injuries

Unfortunately, lingering injury issues have hampered both Wall and Cousins in recent seasons, keeping them off the court for significant stretches.

John Wall – Achilles Recovery

After suffering a ruptured Achilles in February 2019, Wall has yet to return to action. He has battled multiple setbacks, infections and subsequent surgeries. Wall‘s four year, $170 million supermax extension with the Wizards has limited the team‘s roster flexibility as they wait for his return.

The Wizards can only offer Wall encouragement and hope he regains his All-Star form once back at full strength. But his extended absence has clearly been challenging.

DeMarcus Cousins – Journeyman Role

After showing positive signs in Washington, Cousins has assumed more of a journeyman role, signing short-term deals while aiming to contribute. He has continued battling lingering leg and foot issues.

In 2021-2022, Cousins signed a 1-year deal with the Denver Nuggets, his 6th team in 5 seasons. When focused, he remains a productive low-post scorer, rebounder and physical presence. But his explosive athleticism appears compromised after the torn Achilles.

Yet through all the adversity, Cousins continues putting in the work aiming to overcome the odds. His perseverance and love for the game has enabled him to keep fighting back.

Closing Thoughts

In the end, John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins only briefly overlapped as teammates on the Wizards. But that doesn‘t diminish the excitement around two Kentucky legends joining forces or their outstanding college legacies.

Both Wall and Cousins have shown tremendous determination battling through injuries to continue their NBA careers. Their skills and competitive fire still shines through, just like those brilliant seasons starring for the Wildcats in Lexington. Here‘s hoping the two stars fully regain their electrifying forms very soon.