NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins Joins Shock Doctor To Promote Mouthguard Awareness

Cousins partners with Shock Doctor on a focused venture to reduce the frequency and severity of facial injuries on the court.

Fountain Valley, Calif. (March 22, 2016) – Shock Doctor, the No. 1 global leader in mouthguards, announced today the signing of 2016 NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins as a new athlete ambassador. Cousins will exclusively wear Shock Doctor mouthguards on the court and work with the brand to raise awareness about mouthguard protection among basketball players of all levels.

Mouthguards are not required in basketball, yet they are a critical piece of facial protective equipment, as accidental blows to the head are the leading cause of orofacial injuries among players. Nearly a third of all basketball injuries during competition are to the head and face[1], and an average of 3 million teeth get knocked out each year according to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation.

“As a center in the NBA, I spend every game fighting physical battles in the post with some of the largest and strongest athletes in the world,” said Cousins. “Throughout my professional career, I have always worn a mouthguard, and I am excited to be partnering with the No. 1 mouthguard company in the world to promote adoption of this crucial protective equipment.”

Cousins will wear a custom Shock Doctor mouthguard and will participate in Shock Doctor’s ongoing campaign to increase discussion among youth athletes, athletic governing bodies, youth leagues, travel ball organizations, high school federations and players’ parents about the benefits of wearing mouthguards. Cousins will also be featured in advertisements and retail promotions.

“DeMarcus is one of the most talented and explosive players in the game today,” said Tony Armand, CEO of United Sports Brands, the parent company of Shock Doctor. “The health and safety of basketball players – especially at the youth level – is very important to all of our brands, and drafting DeMarcus onto our team raises the profile of our commitment to mouthguard protection.”

Cousins entered the NBA in 2010; he was selected with the fifth overall pick by Sacramento and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. Additionally, Cousins participated in the Rookie Sophomore game his first two years in the NBA. He won a gold medal as a member of the United States national team in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup and was honored as an NBA All-Star in 2015 and 2016. This season Cousins is averaging 11.5 rebounds per game and a career-high 27 points per game.

OI; National High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance Study, 2008-2013