John Wall, center, is glad to be back playing with former UK teammate DeMarcus Cousins. (UK Athletics Photo)
John Calipari built his foundation at Kentucky his first season when John Wall and DeMarcus both came to Lexington to play for him. That was 11 years ago but the legacy they started with great players coming to UK never stopped. Now the two former UK teammates are together in the NBA for the first time with the Houston Rockets this year — Wall was traded from Washington and Cousins was a free agent coming off knee injuries — and Calipari thinks they have a chance to be successful.
“First of all, they care about each other. They have a bond. They’re family and that’s going to help the process,” Calipari said. “Second thing is, they’re both playing for something and they know that they need each other for each of them to get what they’re trying to get out of the situation.
“They want to win. They understand winning matters. They understood that here. As they go forward, when they’re healthy, they’re both All-Stars. It’s just what it is. They care about one another. They’re playing for something. They’re playing to win. They’re playing to prove.”
Calipari said even with All-Star James Harden on the team, Houston fans need to give Wall and Cousins time to blend in.
“People in Houston should understand it’s not going to be right away because they haven’t played for a while. It’s going to take them a little time to get the rust off, but I think they’re fine,” Calipari said.
“They’re both good people. Both of them have emotions about them, but you kind of want that. Like, ‘We want to win. Let’s do this together.'”
Wall is happy to be reunited with his friend and former teammate.
“We got out on the court for the first time. Just walking out there and seeing he’s got the same color I’ve got one and we’re on the same team, it kind of brought back memories from when we were in college,” Wall said at Houston’s media day.
They helped UK reach the 2010 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight before they were upset by West Virginia when the Cats could not make a 3-point shot. They both left for the NBA after one year. Wall had been with Washington his entire career while Cousins has played for the Kings, Pelicans, Warriors and Lakers.
“I know how hard he’s worked and what he’s been through the last couple of years (with ruptured Achilles tendon and torn ACL) to get back to being the DeMarcus Cousins that he was before. The last two years have basically been hell for me. I know what I’ve been through also,” Wall said.
“We will both challenge each other. While we’re here and while we’re teammates, we’re going to challenge each other to get the best out of each other so we can have a heck of a season.”
