John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins explain how favorite Kentucky memory happened off court
DeMarcus Cousins recently was featured on the second episode of John Wall's new podcast, "Point Game." They reminisced about their time with Kentucky basketball, NIL, fatherhood and their journey through the NBA.
Though they were successful with the Wildcats, their favorite UK memory didn't even happen on the court (see below).
Cousins and Wall recalled how they first met in eighth grade in Detroit when their travel ball teams played.
Cousins' team beat Wall's, but one play had Cousins in awe: Wall drove down the court and dunked.
After the game, they started talking and paid respect to each other's game. Years later, they met again at LeBron James' basketball camp before their senior years in high school.
On their recruitments
They rekindled their friendship at the camp and talked about playing college basketball together.
Cousins initially committed to Alabama-Birmingham but decided to reopen his recruitment.
He wanted to commit to Memphis and play for coach John Calipari because of a former Memphis player, Shawne Williams.
When Cousins was in middle school, he watched Williams play and fell in love with his game. He saw a big man with the freedom to dribble the ball upcourt and have the opportunity to shoot 3-pointers.
Not many coaches wanted their big man out on the wing at the time, and Calipari's coaching style was perfect for Cousins.
Wall was one of the last high school recruits to announce his commitment. It was down to three schools: Memphis, N.C. State and Duke.
An hour before he announced his commitment, he pranked Cousins by calling him and telling him he was committing to Duke, and then he just hung up the phone.
Cousins was livid. He had some choice words for Wall through text messages and felt betrayed.
Like Cousins, Wall committed to Kentucky only because of Calipari. In the podcast, Wall said he liked Kentucky when he visited but didn't want to play for former UK coach Billy Gillispie.
Near the end of the podcast, they talked about Calipari's legacy as a coach.
Wall said he hates that Calipari hasn't won more championships, and it's being held against him. He noted Calipari has done more than win championships.
"He's been a real father figure to a lot of people," Wall said.
Cousins chimed in and called Calipari "a basketball pioneer." He mentioned a few ways he revolutionized college basketball, including the one-and-done movement.
Their favorite UK memory
During the podcast, Wall asked Cousins about his favorite moments while at Kentucky.
Cousins' answer had nothing to do with basketball. He shared the story of going to a Drake concert with Wall and Eric Bledsoe.
He talked about going on stage, and afterward, they had an emotional moment together.
"At that moment, we all kind of hugged each other, us all knowing each other's backgrounds, all of us knowing each other's stories, the struggles, the traumas, and us being in the moment about to take the next step in life. ... At the same time, we dreamed about it, but in actuality, for us three this (expletive) wasn't supposed to happen," Cousins said.
"We weren't the kids that were groomed from grade school to become these professional athletes. We three project babies that got it out of the mud."
They were close to tears because they were happy and proud of one another, and their dreams were becoming a reality. The next step was the NBA.
Wall said all three have "Three A For Life" tattooed. It stands for the three amigos. That's how strong their bond was and still is.
Their all-time UK starting fives who could win an NBA title
Wall's co-host, C.J. Toledano, asked Wall and Cousins about their all-time Kentucky starting five that could win an NBA championship.
Cousins' team: Wall, Devin Booker, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Anthony Davis and himself.
Wall agreed on that lineup, but he also said if he were going small ball, the team would be himself, Jamal Murray, Booker, Cousins and Davis.
Reach sports reporter Prince James Story at pstory@gannett.com and follow him on X at @PrinceJStory.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky basketball: John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins reminisce on podcast
