NEW YORK — Carmelo Anthony might have been concerned about the Zika virus before deciding to play in the Olympics, but Boogie Cousins sure isn’t worried.
“I feel I’m well protected,” Cousins said Monday when the 12-man Team USA roster was introduced in Harlem. “I don’t think people are worried. Zika is in the United States, so it’s not stopping anybody from their daily activities here, so why would it stop it anywhere else?”
Zika is serious enough that Jason Day, the No. 1 golfer in the world, withdrew from the Olympics on Monday as a result of the virus.
Many of the best basketball players on the planet — including LeBron James, Russell Westbrook and Steph Curry — also pulled out of the Olympics for various reasons.
But Cousins is on the 12-man team that was introduced Monday in Harlem.
“I’m extremely excited, it’s going to be an amazing experience,” the former Kentucky big man said. “Being able to represent my entire country, being able to wear ‘USA’ across my chest, it’s a huge honor so I can’t wait to get started.”
Cousins is dreaming of winning a gold medal in Rio in August.
“That’s my goal,” he said. “I think that’s everybody’s goal here, that’s all it’s about, winning a gold medal.”
Cousins stood next to Kevin Durant Monday when the players were introduced and Durant appeared to be taller even though Cousins is listed at 6-foot-11 and Durant at 6-9.
“I keep telling him to stop standing by me, man,” Cousins joked. “I think people are starting to figure out, I might be about 6-7. He’s every bit of 7 feet, every bit.”
As for his own Sacramento Kings team, point guard Rajon Rondo is a free agent and a possible target of the Knicks.
“That’s a decison for Rajon,” Cousins said of Rondo’s looming free agency. “I would love to have him back but he’s his own man.”
He added: “I would love to have him back. I talk to him probably every other day but I can only respect him as a man, that’s his own decision.”
The Kings also added former Syracuse shooting guard Malachi Richardson during the NBA Draft, and Cousins likes that pickup.
“I’ve had a chance to train with Malachi throughout the summer [in Las Vegas], think he’s an amazing talent,” Cousins said. ” I think he as a lot of potential, I think he can help us right away and he’s got a chance to be a very, very good player in this league.”
He added: “I believe he needs to work on everything, he’s a rookie.”
As for what he wants to see the Kings do as a whole, Cousins said. “I just think we need to improve in all aspects of our organization. We’ve taken a lot of hits but I do believe we’re in the right direction.
“Sad thing is, it’s not as bad as people try to make it seem. Of course everybody’s on the outside looking in but we really know what’s going on on the inside and it’s just getting to that good place.”
