DeMarcus Cousins is in New York to watch Kentucky, his alma mater, play Kansas tonight in an early-season matchup of college powers.

But if Cousins had his way, he wouldn't be watching college hoops. He would be eight games into his second NBA season.

When he landed in New York on Monday, the Kings center learned the National Basketball Players Association had rejected the owners' latest labor proposal. Like many players, Cousins is ready to get back on the court, but he said he must wait out a process he called "very frustrating."

"Some of the young players I talked to, it's not about the money. We just want to go out there and play ball," Cousins said. "For me, it's knocking off time for me to be improving as a player. This whole situation is really not helping out us younger players."

When the dispute is resolved, the Kings figure to be one of the league's most intriguing teams. Cousins is expected to continue to improve, Tyreke Evans is healthy, and the team has added John Salmons, J.J. Hickson and rookie Jimmer Fredette.

One issue in the labor impasse is the midlevel exception. But because the Kings will be under the salary cap regardless of where it is, some of the proposed rules to limit player movement won't affect them as much as teams over the cap, such as the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks.

So the Kings were looking forward to re-signing restricted free agent Marcus Thornton and making a push to retain unrestricted free agent Samuel Dalembert.

Now those plans are on hold.

Thornton has kept tabs on negotiations through his agent, Tony Dutt, because a new collective bargaining will determine the rules for free agents and how much Thornton can make.

Thornton turned down an opportunity to play in Israel, hoping the lockout would be resolved, but said he doesn't regret the decision.

"We may not have a season, so it's tough," Thornton said. "Besides the money and everything, you're a ballplayer. So for that to be taken away is tough."

Thornton said fans have asked him why players are on strike, not understanding the players have been locked out by the owners.

He said some fans think the players are greedy, that they need to take the 50-50 split of basketball-related income – and anything else the owners want – just so the NBA returns. Thornton said he'd probably say the same thing as a fan.

"Some fans actually know what's going on, and some fans don't," Thornton said. "They want us to take anything and get back to it."

Rookies, who haven't earned their first NBA paychecks yet, are finding various ways to deal with the lockout.

Kings second-round draft pick Isaiah Thomas, who declared for the NBA draft after his junior season at Washington, is finishing his degree in American ethnic studies.

Thomas, just two quarters from graduating on time, said if he finishes this spring, it will be because the NBA season has been canceled.

"I hope we're playing, but if not, I've got something to fall back on, and it's something that's very important to me," Thomas said.

The union has told players to prepare for a long wait before games return, but Thornton said that doesn't make doing so easier.

"There's always the big key: hope (that) both sides continue to negotiate and we can play again," Thornton said.

With no idea when the NBA will return, players have been participating in charity games across the country.

The Kings' Donté Greene has organized a game Sunday night at the Pavilion at UC Davis that will benefit his Circle of Success Foundation. Evans, Cousins, Fredette and Thomas are expected to play, with Kings teammates Jason Thompson and Hassan Whiteside.

Tonight, though, Cousins will watch his Wildcats against Kansas and keep doing what he has been doing. Cousins said his agent, John Greig, keeps him updated on labor issues while he prepares for a season he isn't sure will ever start.

"Just sticking with the plan, trying to stay fit and save money and wait this out," Cousins said. "That's all we really can do."

Coaching staff shuffle – Former Kings guard Bobby Jackson announced on Twitter he will join the team's coaching staff when the lockout ends.

Jackson has worked in the Kings' front office for the past two seasons and has served as a team ambassador in the community.

The only assistant coach on Paul Westphal's staff under contract for 2011-12 is top aide Jim Eyen.

Mario Elie, Truck Robinson, Otis Hughley and Pete Carril were also assistants last season, but Robinson wasn't retained, opening a spot for Jackson.

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