The professional basketball player DeMarcus Cousins, a four-time NBA All-Star, often credits his mother for shaping who he is today.
His parents, Monique Cousins-Evans and Jessie Cousins, played significant roles in his life; however, his upbringing was largely influenced by his mother, due to his limited relationship with his father.
Jessie Cousins, DeMarcus’s father, lived in Mobile and had little contact with him growing up.
DeMarcus’s single mother, Monique Cousins-Evans, raised him and his five siblings in Mobile, Alabama. She provided emotional and financial support despite the challenges of parenting six kids alone.
Monique Cousins-Evans worked as a licensed vocational nurse. She took on flexible assignments to accommodate her children’s busy schedules, often working long 12-hour shifts to provide for her family.
She made every possible sacrifice to make ends meet and give her kids what they wanted.
Over time, her hard work paid off, and DeMarcus built a successful basketball career. DeMarcus is nothing but wholeheartedly grateful for all that she has done.
He often recognizes and appreciates his mother’s support. At the 2018 Santa Cuz Holiday Shopping Spree in Mobile, DeMarcus spoke to children about his challenging childhood, saying,
I didn’t have the best life growing up, but my mom and family did what they could.
This speaks volumes about his gratitude for Monique’s efforts despite their financial struggles.
Likewise, DeMarcus also bought her a house in Spanish Fort, Alabama.
On 2018 Mother’s Day, the former NBA player, DeMarcus, wrote:
Happy Mother’s Day to all the hard working beautiful moms in our lives and especially my own.
DeMarcus Cousins
DeMarcus Cousins’ Mother Encouraged Him To Play Basketball!
Monique Cousins-Evans played a significant role in guiding DeMarcus toward basketball.
When DeMarcus was young, he preferred football, but Monique, concerned about the risk of injuries, encouraged him to join a basketball team instead.
She insisted he play for the Birmingham Storm, an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team, despite his initial reluctance to travel for tournaments due to fears of plane or car accidents.
Monique’s belief in her son’s potential went on another level. She supported his development by driving him four hours to Birmingham for AAU practices after the family moved back to Mobile.
#TBT to cooking @Zatarains Jamabalya with Mom! #ad #0DOUBT #TheResurgence pic.twitter.com/Ci9kXOXsyd
— DeMarcus Cousins (@boogiecousins) March 15, 2018
Her encouragement helped DeMarcus overcome early struggles with basic basketball skills, and her presence provided stability as he grew into a national high school star at LeFlore High School.
She supported DeMarcus as he worked through his early struggles with basketball. It was her belief and presence that gave him the confidence he needed to improve, and with her encouragement, he became a standout player at LeFlore High School.
Monique acknowledged the difficulties DeMarcus faced growing up in Alabama, particularly as a high school athlete facing scrutiny. She told the San Francisco Chronicle,
It wasn’t easy. But it’s about the kids; it’s not about those adults that made it hard.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- DeMarcus Cousins married Morgan Lang on August 24, 2019, in an elegant ceremony held at The St. Regis Atlanta.
- The former NBA player, DeMarcus Cousins, shares two children, Luca Cousins and Quin Cousins, with his wife, Morgan.
- From a previous relationship with Christy West, DeMarcus has two children: a son, Amir Cousins (born in 2012), and a daughter, Vana Cousins (born after 2012).
