Here's DeMarcus Cousins Talking About Double Standards For James Harden And Luka Doncic
Oct 22, 2025
As DeMarcus Cousins grew from a wide-eyed rookie to a respectable veteran in the NBA, he witnessed the league transitioning into an extremely guard-driven showcase. Cousins has played against several talented shot-makers, and apparently, he has a bone to pick with some critics’ opinions of two All-Star guards in particular.
On a recent episode of “Run It Back” on FanDuel TV, Cousins offered his take on James Harden and Luka Dončić. According to “Boogie,” these two players have drawn different reactions despite playing identically.
“When James Harden was at the peak of his career, one of the narratives was, 'That style of play isn't going to win championships.' Everybody was on board with that,” Cousins said. “Why is it now a change in tune when it comes to Luka, who plays a very similar style?"
Stylistically, Harden and Dončić do have a strong resemblance in terms of operating their respective teams’ offenses. Both floor generals control the ball for long periods of time while their teammates take up positions on the floor. While Harden and Dončić get to dictate the play that materializes, their teammates are sometimes reduced to passive entities rather than actively engaged components of a system.
It’s worth noting that Cousins came to Harden’s defense in this comparison of playing styles. During the 2020–21 season, Cousins was briefly on the same roster as Harden when he signed with the Houston Rockets. The 6-foot-10 center ended up playing just 25 games in Houston before getting waived.
About a month before Cousins’ exit, Harden had been shipped to the Brooklyn Nets. The former MVP has since played for the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Clippers (his current team), but wherever he’s played, Harden has played the same ball-dominant style.
The same can be said for Dončić, who called the shots for the Mavericks for the longest time before getting dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers this past season. To Dončić's credit, he was able to lead the Mavs to the 2024 NBA Finals, a feat that validated his greatness as a focal point of attack.
Both Harden and Dončić have been critiqued for various reasons, but no one can dispute the extensive list of accomplishments by these two men throughout their NBA careers. They are successful beyond a shadow of a doubt, but for Cousins, the double standards regarding their playing styles are highly questionable.
