Steve Kerr: DeMarcus Cousins to Return Near January 18
This week Golden State Warriors head coach confirmed that DeMarcus Cousins is on his way back to full fitness. According to Kerr, he will make his season debut somewhere around January 18. On the 18th, the Warriors play on the road against the Los Angeles Clippers.
The four-time NBA All-Star has not played since he ruptured the Achilles tendon in his left foot. The injury occurred while he was playing for the Pelicans on January 26 last year versus the Houston Rockets.
During the last offseason, DeMarcus Cousins inked a deal for one year for the $5.3 million with Golden State. Cousins considered returning on January 16 when the Warriors host the New Orleans Pelicans before he and the organization decided on January 18.
A team source said on Tuesday that the Warriors’ players had learned of Cousins return date on Monday.
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Kerr spoke to reporters following the Warriors 122-95 win against the New York Knicks on Tuesday night. He explained that it was not as simple as just saying that is the game. Although, it will definitely be somewhere around that date.
Kerr added that Cousins has made big strides in both rehab and conditioning the last week. If that were to continue and the head of sports medicine declared Cousins fit to play, then the return date could be January 18.
Cousins has taken part fully in practices with the Warriors for a few weeks after a few practices with the team’s G-League affiliates Santa Cruz late in December.
Cousins had been expected to sign the max extension during last offseason prior to his injury and hopes to show teams that he is completely healthy as he hopes to sign a big extension during the upcoming offseason this summer, while at the same time helping Golden State to a third consecutive NBA title.
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Kerr has repeatedly said that Cousins has been a good fit in the locker room for the Warriors through his sense of humor and the experience he has in the league that has helped the younger Warriors players like Jordan Bell, Damian Jones and Kevon Looney.
Warriors’ players are excited about his return to playing and integrating into the team, while opponents are content with seeing the big man on the sideline not in uniform at the end of the bench each game.
