A point center? DeMarcus Cousins’ new physique has Pelicans confident he can fit that role

As he did the previous offseason as a King, DeMarcus Cousins has been improving his physique since the season ended — so much so that his coach feels comfortable referring to the three-time All-Star as a “point center.”

New Orleans Pelicans Coach Alvin Gentry seemed excited about Cousins’ prospects heading into next season, citing his weight loss and new strategies that would strengthen his chemistry with Anthony Davis, in an interview Friday with WDSU’s Fletcher Mackel.

“When I saw DeMarcus, his body looked great. He invited us to his house for lunch; he’s eating really healthy — he’s got a chef that he’s hired,” Gentry told WDSU.

Cousins, who landed in New Orleans via trade in February, played 17 games for the Pelicans in 2017. He averaged 24.4 points and 12.4 rebounds per game after the trade.

When Mackel referred to Boogie as a point center, comparing him to Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Gentry agreed.

“He’s a tremendous passer, a very good three-point shooter,” Gentry told WDSU.

Cousins shot 37.5 percent from three-point range for New Orleans. Though it’s a small sample, that well exceeds his career rate of 33.0 percent from deep.

This story was originally published June 25, 2017 at 7:29 PM with the headline "A point center? DeMarcus Cousins’ new physique has Pelicans confident he can fit that role."