VIDEO: Kings players take part in MMA workout with UFC's Urijah Faber
As if DeMarcus Cousins wasn't already feared on the basketball court, now the 2015 All-Star has learned how to punch and kick properly. Don't rile up "Boogie" next season, NBA.
A group of Sacramento Kings players recently participated in an intense MMA-style workout, learning fundamental striking techniques from UFC bantamweight fighter Urijah Faber at his Ultimate Fitness gym.
The workout was designed to give the Kings an alternative approach to improving stamina and endurance.
"Everyone dreads just going in the gym and running suicides - or just running, for that matter,” Cousins said, per the Sacramento Bee's Jason Jones. "So we tried to find different ways for conditioning, and this is one of them."
If he ever decides to step in the cage and compete in the Octagon, Faber believes the 6-foot-11, 270-pound Cousins could be the next big thing in UFC's heavyweight division.
“This guy would be a beast here,” Faber said. “Give us a couple years, and we’ll have the next champion.”
"I'll pass," Cousins replied with a laugh.
Sacramento's roster will look dramatically different this upcoming season, with at least nine new faces brought into the fold. Seth Curry, who signed a two-year, $2-million contract with the franchise this offseason, believes an experience such as this is a perfect way to establish chemistry and build new relationships.
"We've got a very new team, so coming to town, being around each other away from the gym, in the gym, whatever the case may be, it's going to help us starting the season out early," Curry said.
"You don't want to show up the first day and introduce yourself; you want to do that a couple weeks beforehand, and that's what we’re trying to do."