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Sacramento Kings’ DeMarcus Cousins, Rudy Gay in for big years after playing with Team USA?

By Andrew Melnick

Dec 15, 2013; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) celebrates with forward Rudy Gay (8) after a play against the Houston Rockets during the first quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 15, 2013; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) celebrates with forward Rudy Gay (8) after a play against the Houston Rockets during the first quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Sacramento Kings’ duo of center DeMarcus Cousins and forward Rudy Gay are currently playing for Team USA in the FIBA World Cup. Both players believe the experience will help them have a big season for the Kings next year (which gets started next month!).

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“It’s huge for us because we’re practicing and working every day together,” Gay said after Team USA’s win over the Dominican Republic on Wednesday via Chris Kudialis of The Sacramento Bee. “And we’re learning with some of the best players in the world.”

Cousins feels the same way.

“It’s definitely good bonding time for us,” Cousins said Thursday. “And for camaraderie, too, because when you wear USA on your chest, you’re playing for something bigger than yourself.”

The Kings lost a big talent in point guard Isaiah Thomas so they will need Gay and Cousins to be at their absolute best if they want to make any noise out west.

Last season, Cousins put up 22.7 points, 11.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 49.6% from the field and 72.6% from the free throw line. In his four-year career, the fifth-overall pick in the first round of the 2010 NBA Draft has averaged 17.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.2% from the floor, 14.8% from beyond the arc and 71.5% from the foul line. Clearly, he showed great improvement in the 2013-2014 season. Gay averaged 20.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 45.5% from the field, 33.0% from beyond the arc and 82.2% from the free throw line. In his eight-year career, the eighth-overall pick of the first round of the 2006 NBA Draft has played for the Kings, Raptors and Memphis Grizzlies and has put up 18.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 45.1% from the field, 34.2% from three and 78.4% from the charity stripe.

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