Why Nuggets’ Michael Malone is confident DeMarcus Cousins will help Warriors

DENVER — During his 6½ seasons with the Kings, DeMarcus Cousins played for five head coaches. None built a better rapport with the four-time All-Star than Michael Malone.

"My 1.5 years in Sacramento with DeMarcus I loved," Malone, now head coach of the Nuggets, said before Tuesday night’s Denver-Golden State game at Pepsi Center. "I loved coaching him. Getting to know him as a person, I think he’s a player that’s misunderstood. Having a chance to get to know him, you realize who he is as a player and as a person."

In November 2014, after six seasons without topping the 28-win mark, Sacramento finally made significant progress. Cousins was playing some of the best basketball of his career.