DeMarcus Cousins was one of the brightest prospects of the 2010 NBA draft, selected by the Sacramento Kings as the fifth pick.
But speaking with “Run It Back,” Cousins revealed which team he wished had chosen him.
He said that he had his eyes on the Detroit Pistons, which ended up picking Greg Monroe with the seventh selection in the draft.
“I thought it fit who I was as a person. I thought I could fit that culture,” Cousins said.
Boogie Cousins says he wanted to be drafted by the Pistons back in 2010!
“I thought it fit who I was as a person. I thought I could fit that culture.” – @boogiecousins
Would this have been a good fit?@MichelleDBeadle | @ChandlerParsons | @TeamLou23 pic.twitter.com/4MzLS61e5z
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) June 20, 2025
That year’s draft was full of promising stars beyond just Cousins.
John Wall was the top pick that year, followed by Evan Turner, Derrick Favors, and Wesley Johnson.
Other big names from 2010 include Paul George, Gordon Hayward, Eric Bledsoe, and more.
Cousins felt he would have fit perfectly into what the Pistons were doing.
They are known for their hard-working, tough, aggressive players and their chemistry and culture that is strong and sometimes in-your-face.
In the end, it was the Kings who picked Cousins, and he spent seven seasons with them.
During that time, he averaged 21.1 points and 10.8 rebounds.
After his years with the Kings, he moved on to the New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Denver Nuggets.
He never got to play for the Detroit Pistons, although he remains an admirer of the team to this day.
Cousins’ story is a prime example of a player not getting exactly what he wanted, but still making the most of it anyway.
Pistons fans will always wonder what could have been had he been chosen by the Pistons, but he still had an exciting and explosive career.
NEXT: 2 NBA Teams Are Scheduled To Play In International Game Next Season