Kings' Cousins: NBA MVP 'mine to grab'

Going from never receiving an NBA MVP vote to winning the award would be quite the gargantuan feat for Sacramento Kings big man DeMarcus Cousins.

However, Cousins is more than optimistic at his chances.

"Reachable, man? It's mine to grab," Cousins said to Bleacher Report's Kevin Ding about his chances of taking home MVP honors this season.

The 25-year-old's talent hasn't been reflected in the Kings' record, with the team never reaching the 30-win mark since he joined the NBA after being selected fifth overall in 2010. Cousins' numbers, though, have gradually improved from season to season.

The problem is management hasn't surrounding its star player with the right complementary pieces to make the Kings competitive enough for a postseason berth. That may have changed this summer, though, with general manager Vlade Divac working the phones to bring aboard an abundance of veteran talent, including Caron Butler, Marco Belinelli, and Rajon Rondo.

"You've got guys who know how to play the game, guys that know the game," Cousins said. "Coming out and building chemistry is even easier. Trying to do that with younger guys? They're trying to figure out their game and learn how to play."

This year's squad may prove to be Cousins' best shot at getting over the hump and finally experiencing a taste of playoff basketball. For that to happen, the 6-foot-11, 270-pound behemoth will need to be on his best behavior, as his short fuse tends to occasionally overshadow his stellar play.

Even so, the mere fact that Sacramento has legitimate playoff aspirations may be enough to keep Cousins motivated.

"To have playoff expectations, it's an exciting feeling," Cousins said. "It's one I've never felt."

Across 59 games last season, Cousins averaged a double-double of 24.1 points (fifth in NBA) and 12.7 rebounds (third) on 46.7 percent shooting from the field, earning spots on the Western Conference All-Star and All-NBA Second team.