Cousins: 'My jersey will be hanging in the rafters when I retire in Sacramento'

Despite what certain rumors may have you believe, DeMarcus Cousins doesn't appear willing to leave Sacramento anytime soon.

An unrestricted free agent in 2018, Cousins gave Kings fans a sign of hope in a recent interview, insinuating that he plans to stay in Sacramento for the long haul.

"If you were to ask me, I think my jersey will be hanging in the rafters when I retire in Sacramento," Cousins told NBA TV on Wednesday. My only concern is winning games every night and pushing this team to the next level."

The two-time All-Star has done his best to shut down trade talk this season, saying that "most of the rumors come from people who want me on their team."

For the first time in Cousins' career, the Kings appear to be in the running for a playoff spot, sitting eighth in the Western Conference with a 15-20 record. While things can change, Cousins sees promise in a team equipped with veteran talent.

"First thing I’ve learned is that this team is full of potential, but the biggest takeaway is that we still have a lot of growing to do," Cousins said. "We want to be a defensive-minded team. We want that to be our identity so we have to make that more crisp."

Cousins is in the midst of his best statistical season as a pro, averaging 28.6 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.4 steals on 44.9 percent shooting.