DeMarcus Cousins reminded everyone why NBA players are in a league of their own when he pulled up to a local park and absolutely schooled a group of streetballers.
The former All-Star and Olympic gold medalist didn’t just show up for a quick photo-op or shootaround, he dominated the court like it was 2016 again, bullying defenders, draining deep threes, and casually dropping fadeaways that looked effortless. It was a masterclass in the difference between an elite NBA talent and everyday hoopers.
https://www.instagram.com/p/p:DJSFB4cR6bZ
The entire showdown came together thanks to D’Vontay Friga, a popular YouTuber and former college hooper with over 1.2 million subscribers.
Friga has become known for bringing both serious hoopers and ex-pros to local parks to give fans a taste of high-level basketball in raw, unfiltered environments. But even by his channel’s standards, Cousins was a major get, and the big man didn’t disappoint.
From the moment Cousins stepped on the court, you could feel the atmosphere shift. He wasn’t there for laughs or easy layups. He played with an edge. On one possession, he caught the ball in the post, backed down a defender, and buried a soft turnaround jumper like he’d done thousands of times in the NBA.
On another, he casually pulled up from beyond the arc and splashed a three-pointer without flinching.
And then came the bullying.
Cousins used his size and strength to his full advantage. Every time someone tried to body him up, he would drop his shoulder and send them flying like it was child’s play. He was grinning, laughing, and talking just enough trash to keep the crowd buzzing, but his game spoke the loudest.
Fadeaways from the elbow, one-legged stepbacks moves that are nearly impossible to defend when executed with the precision and power of a former NBA superstar.
It was clear Cousins hadn’t lost his feel for the game. His footwork was sharp, his basketball IQ was light years ahead of everyone else on the court, and the timing of his passes and decisions was flawless.
The guys guarding him weren’t pushovers either. But against Cousins, they looked ordinary. That’s the gap. That’s the divide between someone who played at the highest level for a decade and even the best local talent.
D’Vontay Friga has built his platform on moments like this, bridging the world of YouTube hoopers with real pros. But this was different. This wasn’t a friendly exhibition.
This was DeMarcus Cousins, one of the most talented big men of his generation, walking into a public park and reminding everyone of the cold, hard truth: there’s levels to this game. And he’s still on a different one.
