GENEVA, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese basketball enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the 3x3 World Tour debut of former NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins, who will represent Wuxi Wenlv for the first time at the international 3x3 basketball competition on Tuesday.
Since joining the Chinese 3x3 club earlier this month, the four-time NBA All-Star and 2016 Olympic champion has captivated Chinese fans, with each of his matches in the Chinese domestic Super League widely reported in the country.
"I'm ready for the World Tour in Wuxi," the 34-year-old center said on Monday. "It's challenging but also a new environment to let the world know I am promoting this sports event."
Cousins has averaged nearly 13 points and 4.3 rebounds in his three matches with Wuxi Wenlv in the China Dragon 3x3 Super League (or Super3), helping his team to two wins and one loss.
The 6-foot-10-inch (2.08 meters) center has quickly become a local favorite, and his global popularity has also drawn international attention to the Wuxi World Tour stop.
His World Tour debut will be a test as 14 top teams, including two-time world champions Huishan NE of Serbia, Partizan Meta Force of Serbia, and other highly ranked global teams, compete in Wuxi.
After brief stints in the Puerto Rico and Chinese Taipei leagues over the past two years, Cousins decided to continue his career on the 3x3 court, playing his first match for Wuxi Wenlv on September 6.
Discussing his initial experience in professional 3x3 basketball, Cousins said, "It's different than what I thought it was. It is fast-paced, with a lot of transactions and physical contact. You need to have that strong mentality and persistence to go through it."
Cousins noted that the transition requires time and support from his new team. Speaking about his teammates Chen Jianghe and Liu Yuxuan, Cousins said, "They are young but full of energy. They improve every single day, play like a team, trust each other, communicate well, and have confidence both on and off the court."
This is the second consecutive year that Wuxi hosts the World Tour stop. The 2024 World Tour includes six stops in China, culminating in the finals in Hong Kong.
Wuxi Wenlv's manager, Sun Xiujun, remarked, "Signing Cousins is not just about winning games. He has the ability to promote 3x3 basketball in Wuxi and across China. Cousins is ready both physically and mentally. He's the professional player we were looking for."
Selected fifth overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 2010 NBA Draft, Cousins played 12 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) before leaving in 2022. He averaged 19.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. ■