“My Lung Collapsed”: Despite His 7ft Stature, Michael Jordan’s Hornets’ Former Star Recounts the Horror of Facing Stephen Curry’s Buddy

Guarding a fluid player like Stephen Curry can be a horrible experience. It takes a lot of stamina, incredible foot speed, and nuanced defensive schemes to even dream of containing him. This takes a toll on the body, but the Guard isn’t going to bruise you through intense post-play. Therefore, perhaps the hardest job is to cover a big man who has sound post principles. It becomes even more tenuous when the Center isn’t afraid to take contact and dishes out a ton of it.

A Free Agent recalls guarding a bruising Center in a scenario that left him in dreaded waters.

Stephen Curry’s former teammate handed nightmares

In the modern NBA, centers have stayed relevant and are dominating during the last few years. Taking advantage of the spaced-up floors and lack of presence inside, players like Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic are match-up nightmares. Therefore, the league’s big men may need to revert to Post-defense fundamentals from the 20th century. The post-defense has taken a hit, therefore, bodies that can check a bruising big man have reduced.

DeMarcus Cousins is one such big man who gave many scratches and contusions when bumping the post. The Center was two inches below the typical seven-footer mark, but his high-post game and low-post combined for a tough cover. To limit Stephen Curry’s one-season teammate, the opposition committed hard fouls but no amount of contact deterred him. Therefore, someone who guarded him can provide the horrors of going against him.

Frank “The Tank” Kaminsky is one such Center who faced Boogie’s wrath. Coming into the league in 2015 after winning the National College Player of the Year. he generated a lot of hype. However, this wasn’t NCAA anymore. After being drafted by Michael Jordan-owned Hornets as the ninth pick, he felt the grueling nature of the NBA. 

He recalled one such experience while replying to a Tweet.

In the Tweet by Ball Don’t Stop, the author proclaims, “No defender in the game today is holding Boogie’s jock straps”. The Seven-Foot Center assented to the notion and shared an experience of guarding him, claiming during “one move my lung collapsed”.

READ MORE: “Till It’s Over”: Hours After 9x Champion’s Subtle Jab at Disgruntled Youth, 20YO Warriors Star Breaks His Silence

It is unbelievable that a player of his stature became a journeyman, not that deep in his career.

Why DeMarcus Cousins migrated to a different league

From 2013 to 2018, Cousins crossed the 20 points per game and ten-plus rebounds average six times in a row. Much of the damage came when he was a part of the Kings. When he went to the Pelicans, injuries were taking hold, but he still managed to average around 25 points and 13 rebounds a game. But things went downhill when he joined Stephen Curry and the Warriors. Despite averaging 16 points a game with them, the Warriors didn’t want him back.

After that, he played for four different teams in two seasons, constantly getting waived. Because of this humiliation, the Center signed with Mets de Guaynabo of Puerto Rico’s Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN). Injury troubles and the space-focused approach of the league cost him his career, but he had left a deep mark.

Watch this story: “Embarrassing”: Sports World Demolishes $100,000,000 Warriors’ Star Draymond Green for Wrongly Slandering Celtics Legend Kevin Garnett

Do you think the new style of NBA blackballed Boogie? Do share in the comments below.