Official announcement! Hello, Cousins! The NBA's top center faces off against the Guangdong team.

It has been confirmed.

The Guangdong National Games men's basketball team will compete in three warm-up games against the U.S. Kentucky team led by Cousins.

The former NBA top center facing off against the CBA's biggest powerhouse, the 11-time champion Guangdong team, is sure to attract massive interest. Moreover, the matches are set in cities known for their passionate basketball fans, so ticket sales should be strong.

Notably, according to earlier reports, during Cousins' stay in China preparing for the warm-up games, he received offers from CBA teams, but whether he will accept them remains uncertain.

Cousins, now 35 years old, began his NBA career in the 2010-11 season and ended in 2021-22. Over that period, he averaged 29.8 minutes per regular season game, contributing 19.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks, with shooting percentages of 46%, 33.1%, and 73.7% respectively. In the playoffs, he averaged 12.4 minutes, scoring 8.3 points, grabbing 3.5 rebounds, and dishing out 1.5 assists, shooting 47.6%, 39.3%, and 70.4% from the field.

Over his 12-year NBA career, Cousins played for the Kings, Pelicans, Warriors, Lakers (0 games), Rockets, Clippers, Bucks, and Nuggets. His personal achievements include 4 All-Star selections, 2 All-NBA Second Team honors, and winning the Rio Olympics gold medal with Team USA in 2016. His total career earnings are about $94.28 million, with his highest annual salary being $15.85 million during the 2015-16 season with the Kings.

Interestingly, Cousins could have secured a big contract but declined a 5-year, $207 million max deal from the Kings and a 2-year, $40 million extension from the Pelicans. He was once cited as a cautionary example for players deemed "overconfident" or unrealistic.

Perhaps due to financial needs or to recover past losses, since leaving the NBA in 2022, Cousins has been tirelessly traveling, appearing in Puerto Rico, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Mongolia. Last September, he even joined the Wuxi Wenlv Huishan team in the Super Basketball League, and now, as mentioned, he continues to earn by playing warm-up games with the touring team.

Undoubtedly, Cousins is a talented player, but his unpredictable temperament and emotional volatility have made a fully successful career difficult to achieve.