IT'S not every day that you walk into practice and sweat it out alongside a former NBA star.
For Ange Kouame, the opportunity to train with DeMarcus Cousins at Strong Group Athletics was a chance to hasten his development, even if it meant stepping back and humbling himself before the four-time NBA All-Star center.
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Kouame was fully committed to soaking in every bit of knowledge he can get from the 12-year NBA veteran.
“I just came out of college, I don’t get the exposure that he had with the kind of caliber-player that he is. It’s a lot of experience, and he knows the game more than I do,” the former Ateneo slotman shared with SPIN.ph.
Gilas Pilipinas' naturalized big man said Cousins has been mentoring him during their recent training sessions as SGA gears up for the 34th Dubai International Championship set next week.
Whether during full-court runs or more focused drills, the soft-spoken Kouame made it a point to approach Cousins for insights, and to get himself ‘checked.'
“I’m always asking him for little bit of tips. Every now and then I go to him and ask how to adjust my game. And at the same time, I also learn trying to guard a player of his caliber. Being teammates with him and getting that teaching has been great,” he said.
Kouame considers himself lucky to train alongside Cousins in his first Dubai stint with SGA.
Cousins may look moody and temperamental during practices and games, but he appreciates Kouame’s eagerness to learn and improve.
“That’s my job, man. He’s a young kid with potential. He has a lot of growing to do, and great thing about that is he wants to grow, he wants to get better,” Cousins said of Kouame. "When you’re dealing with a kid like that, it’s easy to want to help him."
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