Former Kentucky Wildcats star DeMarcus Cousins has won his first Olympic gold medal.
Cousins and Team USA did so thanks to a 96-66 rout of Serbia in the gold medal game to cap off the 2016 Olympics. The UK product and current Kings big man finished with 13 points and a game-high 15 rebounds in the final game. He averaged 9.1 points and 5.8 rebounds in eight games at the Olympics while shooting 61.4% from the floor.
Following the win, UK head coach John Calipari sent out a congratulations to Cousins for the career achievement.
"Congratulations to USA Basketball on another gold medal and to our own DeMarcus Cousins," Calipari said. "DeMarcus continues to get better and better and has become one of the best big men in our game. I know how badly he wanted this opportunity and this gold medal. I couldn't be more proud of him."
Cousins is the 10th Wildcat all-time to compete in the Olympics and win a gold medal*, tied with North Carolina and UCLA for the most among all colleges. Cousins is also the third former UK player in a row to win a gold medal. Anthony Davis captured the gold at the last Olympics, in 2012, and Tayshaun Prince was a part of the 2008 gold-medal team.
Guess who's an #Olympic #Gold Medalist? https://t.co/uYimITX3AC
— LizzLocker (@Lizzs_Lockeroom) August 21, 2016
Way to go Boogie!
*Not counting Sam Bowie, who was awarded a medal by President Jimmy Carter after the United States boycotted the 1980 Moscow Games