“He was a wild boy when he first came in,” DeMarcus Cousins said. “Just to see him grow as a professional, as a man, he’s one of my good friends as well. If there’s one guy I know I can go into battle with, it’s Omri.”
That is high praise from Cousins. The two were close as young players, but they are even closer now. Cousins joined his friend and teammate on a trip to Israel this summer and the bond they share runs deep.
“It just opens your eyes,” Cousins said of his journey to Israel with Casspi. “Problems throughout the world, other cultures -- it’s a beautiful thing. I’m glad I could experience that.”
Cousins lived through the early years of Casspi’s career, but the secondary commitments of his teammate were likely lost on the All-Star big man. The Israel visit helped add perspective.
“He’s an icon to many people over there,” Cousins said. “The way he carries himself -- true professional. He carries himself like a grown man, the way I want to carry myself and the way a lot of people should carry themselves.”
Casspi and Cousins share an agent, and according to the big man, he lobbied both sides to ensure the forward’s return. The result was a two-year, $6-million deal this summer to remain in Sacramento, a place where he would love to finish his career.
“He’s going to bring it every night, he’s going to play hard every possession, he’s going to leave it all on the floor,” Cousins said. “I respect those types of players.
