DeMarcus Cousins is one of the good guys — or at least he should be seen that way.

Sure, he might pelt Chris Paul with a basketball, say he doesn't understand what the Kings are doing and rack up technical fouls at a less-than-ideal rate.

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Look, lots of people want to hit Paul with a basketball, no one knows what the Kings are doing and Cousins is willing to poke fun at his constant battles with officiating crews. Cousins' attitude could still use some work, but plenty of teams would love to have his production knowing the pros outweigh the cons.

Even if you don't always agree with how Cousins handles himself between the lines, you should admire the person he has become. The 26-year-old All-Star center will sponsor a panel discussion Saturday in his hometown of Mobile, Ala., aimed at "strengthening relations among the police and the community." This is hardly Cousins' first act to better the lives of those around him, and it's unlikely to be his last.

After signing a huge extension with the Kings in 2013, Cousins quietly gave $1 million to local charities. Just last November, Cousins covered the funeral costs for a Sacramento high school football player who was killed shortly before a playoff game. The donation would have remained anonymous, but Sacramento City Council member Rick Jennings revealed Cousins was behind the act of kindness at a candelight vigil.

The public perception of Cousins and what the big man actually represents don't always line up. All of Cousins' on-court issues stem from an intense passion for winning and frustration for lack of it. Sure, there is a level of selfishness, but that exists with every star. When Kobe Bryant snarled at teammates to give him the ball, we called it the "Mamba Mentality." When Cousins does it, we say "Boogie" is having a breakdown, blaming him instead of the Kings' front office.

The "bad boy" label has followed him since his days at Kentucky under John Calipari. Remember this prediction?

There is a 100% chance that Demarcus Cousins is arrested for something in the next five years. 100%. Write it in stone. — Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) January 30, 2010

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Still waiting on that to happen.

You can highlight whatever off-the-court "issues" you want about Cousins. You can point to a bar fight in May that resulted in the arrest of his brother, but police told TMZ "there was no indication of any involvement by DeMarcus Cousins." You can point to the brothel incident in Rio de Janeiro, but it seemed like an honest mistake with Team USA players leaving immediately once they realized where they were. What you should remember about that trip is a gold medal for USA Basketball.

And despite whatever headaches he gives Sacramento's coaching staff, Cousins remains one of the most talented and skilled players in the NBA. There are a dozen players in league history to average at least 25 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and one block per game over the course of a full season. The names: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Charles Barkley, Tim Duncan, Patrick Ewing, Bob Lanier, Karl Malone, Bob McAdoo, Shaquille O'Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, Chris Webber and Cousins. That's elite company.

Cousins is not without flaws and still has room to improve. He is also an extraordinarily gifted player and an asset to his community without seeking credit for his contributions.

Isn't that someone worth rooting for?