Cayleigh Griffin: Updated injury report: DeMarcus Cousins and Eric Gordon will play in Chicago. Sterling Brown is still questionable. John Wall remains out.
NBA Rumor: DeMarcus Cousins Injury
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Tim MacMahon: New Rockets additions to official NBA injury report: Out: Kenyon Martin Jr. (Not With Team — Self Isolating) Questionable: DeMarcus Cousins (right ankle sprain)
Kelly Iko: DeMarcus Cousins says that he feels incredible. “My body’s in a great place, my mind is in a great place. I’m just ready to play basketball, the game I love.”
What to expect from DeMarcus Cousins on the Rockets? Feigen: What I’veheard is he looks terrific in his physicals and did a great job in his rehab. Physically, he’s good to go. He looks thin. He’s obviously been working hard. He looks terrific.
DeMarcus Cousins continues to recover from the left knee injury that cost him his 2019-20 campaign and may not be ready to play on an opening day roster next month. There haven’t been any specific setbacks, Cousins’ agent Jeff Schwartz tells SLAM, but the former All-Star is intent on returning at full strength and in a situation that’s going to be a good fit for him.
Obviously the physical aspect of recovering from an Achilles tear and then an ACL tear is intense. When I saw you around the Lakers this year you looked like you were in great shape. How hard is the mental aspect of the recovery? DeMarcus Cousins: It’s tough, no lie. I’d be lying to say it’s been an easy journey or it hasn’t been tough. It’s definitely been a rough journey. But that’s the nature of this business. That’s what separates the guys that last 15 years in the league to the guys that have a short stint. The thing that I preach to a lot of young players and the younger generation in general, when it comes to being successful or being the best you can be in the business, whatever the field may be, it’s going to take a commitment. There’s going to be ups and downs but as long as you’re committed to whatever you’re doing in life, that’s what it’s going to take. I accept this is part of the business. All I can do is work my tail off to get back to where I want to be.
Do you feel like you’re missing out on a once-in-a-lifetime experience by deciding not to play? DeMarcus Cousins: I miss basketball in general. I’ve been playing this game since I was a kid, and I’ve never been away from it for this long, so I’m missing it more than ever. But due to the circumstances, it’s a different game right now. Nothing but respect to the guys who went out there to the bubble and are doing what they’re doing. For me, it just wasn’t the right situation or the right time to be trying to force myself. It’s already me battling to get healthy and the obstacles in front of me. On top of that to add the different elements that are amongst us, it wasn’t the right time for me. I look forward to next season.
ShowtimeForum: “I’m told DeMarcus Cousins plans to remain with the Lakers for the remainder of the season to continue rehabbing his torn ACL.” Via: @Shams Charania | #Lakeshow
Melissa Rohlin: Alex Caruso on Cousins: “DeMarcus has been here rehabbing and been a great member of this team behind the scenes that nobody gets to see because the only thing he can do is be a good teammate and travel, and show up to every game and have a good attitude. And he’s done that.”
Chris Haynes: Yahoo Sources: DeMarcus Cousins was informed yesterday by the Lakers that he would be waived. He plans to continue rehabbing ACL injury into the offseason.
DeMarcus Cousins knows now that he shouldn’t have played for the Warriors in last year’s NBA Finals, but the center said Thursday that he doesn’t regret his decision to rush back from a torn left quadriceps. “I was terrible in the Finals. I was a one-legged bandit on the floor, but I wanted to be a part of it,” Cousins said on Showtime’s “All the Smoke” podcast with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson. “In the Finals, you play hurt. If you can go, you can go. That’s when you lay your body on the line. I went out there and gave it what I had. The results were unfortunate. … I wasn’t supposed to be on the floor.”
Although he averaged just 8.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in the championship series, Cousins said he doesn’t regret his decision. “I had no business on the floor. None, whatsoever,” he said. “… I just kept telling myself: ‘This is what I’ve played for my entire life: to be on this stage and have this opportunity. Whatever I’ve got to do to be a part of that, I’m going to do it.’ I don’t even know how I did it, honestly.”
Kyle Goon: Frank Vogel said today that DeMarcus Cousins is “not close” to return, and acknowledged a playoff return would be difficult: “It’s a big challenge. It’s not ideal. That’s why we’re keeping expectations tempered. Not ruling it out.”
One Los Angeles Lakers storyline that was overshadowed by the festivities surrounding NBA All-Star weekend is news of a potential return this season for DeMarcus Cousins. The 29-year-old four-time All-Star signed a one-year contract with the Lakers during the offseason before suffering an ACL injury in August. But according to coach Frank Vogel–who spoke with reporters in Chicago during All-Star weekend–DeMarcus could be back providing an added punch to the Lakers lineup by the playoffs. “He’s on track to get healthy by the playoffs,” Vogel said. “We’ll have to see where he’s at with rhythm and conditioning and timing and all that stuff. But there’s a possibility he returns this season, yes.”
One Los Angeles Lakers storyline that was overshadowed by the festivities surrounding NBA All-Star weekend is news of a potential return this season for DeMarcus Cousins. The 29-year-old four-time All-Star signed a one-year contract with the Lakers during the offseason before suffering an ACL injury in August. But according to coach Frank Vogel–who spoke with reporters in Chicago during All-Star weekend–DeMarcus could be back providing an added punch to the Lakers lineup by the playoffs. “He’s on track to get healthy by the playoffs,” Vogel said. “We’ll have to see where he’s at with rhythm and conditioning and timing and all that stuff. But there’s a possibility he returns this season, yes.”
Mere hours before taking the court in Chicago to do just that, however, his coach made a surprising announcement about the player he replaced. Frank Vogel explained during his media availability Saturday that Cousins could come back and play for the Lakers before the end of the season. “He’s on track to get healthy by the playoffs” and we’ll have to see where he’s at with rhythm, and conditioning, and timing and all that stuff,” Vogel said. “But there is a possibility he returns this season, yes.”
Vogel provided an update about Cousins on Friday, and said that the center had recently been cleared for “a little bit of light warmup stuff” by the training staff. “But that’s just like light jogging and those types of things. There is still a long way to go,” Vogel cautioned, but he added that he thinks there is also still a chance of Cousins coming back. ”As far as I know he’s still on track. He’s still a possibility to play this year, but I can’t really go into more detail,” Vogel said.
Dave McMenamin: F. Vogel says that DeMarcus Cousins’ criminal charges that were dropped today have “definitely been present in my mind but it’s really a legal matter and I’m not really allowed to comment on it further than that.” He added that the team is still “hopeful” Cousins plays in ‘19-20
Bill Oram: Frank Vogel says the Lakers “have not closed the door” on the possibility of DeMarcus Cousins returning before the end of the season if the Lakers make the playoffs.
NBA grants disabled player exception to Lakers
Shams Charania: The Lakers have been granted a disabled player exception worth $1.75M from the NBA for the expected season-ending ACL injury to DeMarcus Cousins, league sources tell @The Athletic @Stadium. It expires on March 10, 2020.
DeMarcus Cousins didn’t let a torn ACL hold him back on the biggest day of his life … so says Matt Barnes, who tells TMZ Sports the NBA superstar was dancing and in great spirits at his wedding over the weekend!!!
The 29-year-old Lakers center married his longtime girlfriend, Morgan Lang, in Atlanta on Saturday — just 2 weeks after seriously injuring his left knee in a Vegas training sesh. The event looked like NBA All-Star Weekend with huge stars like Barnes, Anthony Davis, Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala and more in attendance. As for the dancing, Boogie didn’t do anything stupid — he was cautious — and left the wild dance moves to his new wife!!!
We talked to Barnes about DC’s morale during his big day … and while Matt says he’s sure the guy is frustrated about the recent bad luck, Cousins didn’t show it on Saturday. “He’s been through a lot of late, so I’m happy to see him smile, be able to take his mind off his injury and enjoy his day,” Barnes told us at LAX.
David Thorpe: I saw the video last week of DeMarcus Cousins falling down with a reportedly torn ACL. He was not touched. But as someone who has been involved with summer basketball since 1988, I must admit that I’m confused to see so many professionals playing full-court 5-on-5 in the summer. Players would be better off not playing these games. If we can agree that the in-season schedule is at least part of the reason for some of the injuries players have absorbed, can we also agree that in general, games themselves come with more risk than workouts?
“I’m devastated for DeMarcus,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who is serving as a Team USA assistant under national team coach Gregg Popovich. “It’s been a couple years of hell for DeMarcus with the injuries, first the Achilles and then last year in the playoffs with the quad. I was really hoping that this would be a year for him upcoming with the Lakers where he could get healthy, get his rhythm, get his conditioning and really start his comeback. We’re all crushed for him, everybody in this gym, all these fellow players and coaches. This is a small community. Everybody’s been talking about it. We’ve all reached out to him. We all just feel terrible for him.
“I’m devastated for DeMarcus,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who is serving as a Team USA assistant under national team coach Gregg Popovich. “It’s been a couple years of hell for DeMarcus with the injuries, first the Achilles and then last year in the playoffs with the quad. I was really hoping that this would be a year for him upcoming with the Lakers where he could get healthy, get his rhythm, get his conditioning and really start his comeback. We’re all crushed for him, everybody in this gym, all these fellow players and coaches. This is a small community. Everybody’s been talking about it. We’ve all reached out to him. We all just feel terrible for him.
“It’s super unfortunate because just how much he loves basketball, throughout all these injuries, he’s kind of fought back to get in as soon as possible,” Kuzma said. “That’s just kind of how the ball goes sometimes. You never really know, and you kind of (have to) count your blessings sometimes, take it at that and be grateful.
“It’s super unfortunate because just how much he loves basketball, throughout all these injuries, he’s kind of fought back to get in as soon as possible,” Kuzma said. “That’s just kind of how the ball goes sometimes. You never really know, and you kind of (have to) count your blessings sometimes, take it at that and be grateful.
Jared Greenberg: In the wake of the DeMarcus Cousins news a high ranking member of the Lakers tells me that they do not expect nor do they want Anthony Davis to play “big minutes” at center this season @NBATV
Draymond Green had just told DeMarcus Cousins that he hadn’t seen him look this fit and slim since his college days at Kentucky. He was ready to see the big man wreak havoc on the NBA this season. That was just last week. On Thursday, Green and the rest of the NBA learned that Cousins had suffered yet another crushing setback with a torn left ACL, leaving Green uncertain of what to say or text to his good friend and former Golden State Warriors teammate.
“One of my goals coming into this season was for DeMarcus to destroy everybody and come back and show how great of a player he is and get what I think he deserves,” Green told The Undefeated’s Marc Spears. “I’m really at a loss for words about it. It’s one that really hurt me for sure.”
Green says that if anyone can overcome this series of injuries, it’s Cousins. “He made it out of Mobile, Alabama,” Green said. “The NBA is tough, very tough to get to, very tough to stay in. “But he made it out of Mobile, Alabama. If he can do that, he can do anything.”
Ben Golliver: Steve Kerr on DeMarcus Cousins: “You’re talking about a player who has dealt with the 2 most feared injuries for NBA players – the Achilles & the ACL – in 2 or 3 years, it’s unheard of. What a blow for him and the Lakers. Hopefully he can get back on the bike and start riding.” pic.twitter.com/QB8KwgcK9I
Ben Golliver: Warriors’ Steve Kerr on DeMarcus Cousins’ knee injury: “I’m devastated for DeMarcus. It’s been a couple of years of hell. I was really hoping this season would be a chance to get healthy. We’re all crushed for him.” pic.twitter.com/qa0BmQhAFJ
DeMarcus Cousins' ACL tear official
Adrian Wojnarowski: Test results are conclusive today in Los Angeles: Lakers center DeMarcus Cousins has suffered a torn left ACL, agent Jeff Schwartz of @excelsm tells ESPN
Tim Reynolds: DeMarcus Cousins has suffered a torn ACL in his left knee, as confirmed by his agent Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management. The timeline for surgery is currently being discussed.
Richaun Holmes: Prayers up for @DeMarcus Cousins sick for bro right now
Luka Doncic: fast recovery!!! 🙏🙏 @DeMarcus Cousins
Enes Kanter: Pray for my brother @DeMarcus Cousins 🙏
DeMarcus Cousins suffers torn ACL
Shams Charania: Los Angeles Lakers center DeMarcus Cousins has suffered a torn ACL in his knee, league sources tell @The Athletic @Stadium.
Bradley Beal: 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 @DeMarcus Cousins
Isaiah Thomas: Praying for my brother @DeMarcus Cousins 🙏🏾🏁
DeMarcus Cousins hurts knee
Adrian Wojnarowski: Lakers center DeMarcus Cousins has suffered a possible knee injury and will undergo further testing today in Los Angeles, league sources tell ESPN. Cousins was working out in Las Vegas on Monday when he had to leave the court, sources said. He signed a one-year deal in July.
The four-time All-Star is expected to meet with Lakers team physicians, sources said. Cousins, 29, was working out in Las Vegas on Monday when he had to leave the court after what one source described as “bumping knees” with another player.
Ryan Ward: The news about DeMarcus Cousins’ “possible knee injury” is pretty vague, which probably isn’t a good sign for the #Lakers. The team can only hope it is a minor issue after an offseason in which he dropped weight and was determined to prove his worth in 2019-20.
Marc Stein: Jordan Bell gets the Finals Game 1 start at center for the Warriors. DeMarcus Cousins is active and available
Connor Letourneau: Steve Kerr said that he doesn’t think DeMarcus Cousins’ conditioning coming off the quad injury will allow him to play big minutes, but Cousins should help in bursts.
Connor Letourneau: Kerr declined to say what Cousins’ workload would be tonight.
Marcus Thompson: Cousins is sounding like someone who wants to play
Marc J. Spears: Injured center DeMarcus Cousins will be available at #Warriors Media Day at the #NBAFinals today but injured forward Kevin Durant is not listed.
Cousins appeared rusty and told The Undefeated that his conditioning needs work. Warriors coach Steve Kerr listed Cousins as questionable for Game 1 against the host Toronto Raptors. But just the possibility of Cousins being available for Game 1 is stunning. “It’s just about getting my body in shape, my quad muscle in shape and go through the different phases and ups and downs of the game,” Cousins said. “It has been a tough week. I’ve been working my tail off to get to this point. But I am healthy enough.”
In regards to his upcoming free agency, Cousins said he plans to “take it one step at a time.” His focus right now is on winning his first championship and playing a role in it. “All I can do is make sure I do what I can control and that is to get better each and every day, whether it’s my health, me as a basketball player, me as a person,” Cousins said. “Whatever the case may be, I have to make sure I better myself each and every day.”
Mark Medina: Steve Kerr said DeMarcus Cousins is “making good progress.” But Kerr outlines complexities of Cousins’ return pic.twitter.com/9A5SpobWb6
Nick Friedell: Cousins on injury — “Initially I thought it was worse than what it was.” Said it took him a couple days to get over another injury, but was glad it wasn’t as serious as it could have been. Cousins isn’t sure yet exactly what his role will be if and when he returns.
Mark Kreidler: Warriors announce that Durant hasn’t been cleared to return to on-court activity. Team says it’s “hopeful” that “at some point” he plays in NBA Finals. Cousins is more likely at this point.
Mark Medina: Warriors say they “anticipate” DeMarcus Cousins will play at some point in the NBA Finals. Warriors they are “hopeful” Kevin Durant plays at some point in the NBA Finals. But nothing is certain. Warriors will re-evaluate both players on Wednesday
“I think it’s very motivating for us to try to sweep this series and have that time off,” Green said on Sunday. “Obviously we’re a little banged up so nine days off would be great for us. Allow Andre [Iguodala] time to heal, Shaun [Livingston]’s old — but also allow the possibility of Kevin [Durant] and DeMarcus [Cousins] to get healthy and come back as well. So I think it’s very important for us to come out tomorrow with the right mindset. We didn’t do that against the Clippers. “
Logan Murdock: Steve Kerr on DeMarcus Cousins’ status: “He’s working really hard. He’s been in the training room religiously. … So he is ahead of Kevin, as far as getting onto the court.”
DeMarcus Cousins is pretty obsessed with returning at some point in these playoffs. It’s easy to understand. He’s extremely competitive. This is basketball at the highest level. It’s the first time he’s been around it. But he’s frothing for an actual taste. “I’m built different,” he told The Athletic. “He wants to play so damn bad,” one team source said.
DeMarcus Cousins back for West Finals?
Marc Stein: Another reward for the victorious Warriors: League sources say that DeMarcus Cousins — if he maintains his recent progress from a torn quad — is on course to make a return to the Warriors’ active roster during the Western Conference finals
DeMarcus Cousins returning this season?
Golden State Warriors injured center DeMarcus Cousins said he expects to play again this season after suffering a partially torn quadriceps muscle and envisions a “very nice ending” to the 2018-19 campaign.
“For me, my goal is I ain’t planning on sitting,” Cousins told The Undefeated after the Warriors’ shootaround in preparation for Monday’s Game 4 against the Houston Rockets in a second-round playoff series. “I don’t know the reality of it. But for me, that is not what I’m planning on doing…It’s definitely some type of bad movie. But I think it will have a very nice ending. Just wait for it.”
When asked about potentially returning in the Rockets series or at a future time, Cousins answered, “We will see.” “I’m taking it day by day,” Cousins said. “I’m in better spirits, for sure. I kind of shut the world out. There are a lot of opinions out there. I shut the world out, went to my little zone and I’m taking it a day at a time. There were too many opinions. Everybody thought they knew what was going on. Everybody is a doctor. Just sit back and watch. I will do the rest.”
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is leaving open the possibility of centers DeMarcus Cousins and Damian Jones returning at some point during the playoffs. “It’s a possibility he could be back,” Kerr said of Jones. “Same with DeMarcus. He’s coming along pretty well. We’ll just wait and see.”
Mark Medina: DeMarcus Cousins is here with the team rehabbing
Marc J. Spears: Warriors coach Steve Kerr says DeMarcus Cousins is “progressing with his rehab but not enough to report.”
Connor Letourneau: Good sign of progress: DeMarcus Cousins is getting up shots after practice.
Anthony Slater: DeMarcus Cousins on the bench today. First time since the injury.
Center DeMarcus Cousins is unlikely to return this postseason for the Golden State Warriors yet won’t require surgery on his torn left quadriceps muscle. Coach Steve Kerr has named Andrew Bogut as his starter in place of Cousins for Game 3 Thursday night of the team’s first-round playoff series against the Clippers in Los Angeles. Playing in just his second career postseason game after a nine-year wait, the 28-year-old Cousins went down in the first quarter of a 135-131 Game 2 loss Monday night. He fell in front of the Golden State bench after swiping a ball from Patrick Beverley in the back court. Cousins immediately grabbed at his left quad then hobbled to the locker room at the 8:09 mark.
Marc J. Spears: Hornets guard Tony Parker tore his quad muscle and returned in eight months. Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins’ camp is holding out hope for a much faster prognosis if he responds well to treatment.
Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins, who exited last night’s Game 2 against the Los Angeles Clippers with 8:09 remaining in the first quarter, underwent an MRI exam earlier this morning in the Bay Area. The MRI confirmed that Cousins has suffered a torn left quadriceps muscle. The injury will sideline Cousins indefinitely and he will begin rehabilitation immediately
DeMarcus Cousins done for the playoffs
Golden State Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins has a torn left quad, a source told The Undefeated’s Marc J. Spears on Tuesday. Doctors are still determining the severity of Cousins’ quad tear, which will determine the length of the recovery process, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. It is unclear whether he will need surgery or how long he could be out. An MRI confirmed the team’s fear of a tear on Tuesday morning.
January 19, 2021 | 4:16 pm EST Update
MLK Day's games TV viewership up from last season
TNT’s MLK Day primetime doubleheader coverage – highlighted by the Milwaukee Bucks vs. Brooklyn Nets and Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers – averaged 2.1 million viewers for an increase of 31% vs. last year’s comparable MLK Day coverage, according to Nielsen Fast Nationals. The doubleheader increase was fueled by Warriors/Lakers at 10 p.m. ET, which netted an 84% increase based on an average of 2.2 million viewers vs. last year’s same telecast window.
Overall, TNT’s MLK Day tripleheader, which also included the Phoenix Suns vs. Memphis Grizzlies, averaged 1.6 million viewers across TNT and TV Everywhere platforms, up 26% over last year’s coverage. TNT’s live NBA regular season game coverage is averaging 1.7 million viewers, up 21% vs. the same number of games last year (1.4 million viewers through 12 telecasts).
Joe Mussatto: Thunder second-round pick Vit Krejci is rehabbing in Oklahoma City. Krejci suffered an ACL injury in September. He will be on the OKC Blue roster.
The Detroit Pistons announced today they are partnering with the Detroit Police Department to launch the Advancing African American Teens Mentoring Program. The program will include a series of monthly mentorship virtual meetings created to engage Detroit-area teenagers through positive dialogue, enrichment philosophies and life strategies to help them realize their power in reaching their goals.
The Charlotte Hornets last reached the playoffs five years ago and are a couple of games below .500 so far this season. But a revamped roster, including splashy draft pick LaMelo Ball, and a new mint-green alternate jersey have jump-started the NBA team’s merchandise sales.
“When we really started to see a lot of energy is when we rebranded from the Bobcats to the Hornets,” team President Fred Whitfield told CBJ. “Clearly, with the excitement around us bringing that brand back and the colors and all the history, we started to see some growth in that area.”
Jersey sales have been spurred by four players: Ball, free-agent signee Gordon Hayward and returning players Devonte Graham and P.J. Washington. Whitfield and Bennett credited Jordan Brand, the Nike division that resulted from the Hornets owner’s Air Jordan shoes and apparel, with boosting interest through the creation of the City Edition uniforms. The colors, which also include gold and granite, play off of the region’s role as a gold rush site and a financial center dating back to Charlotte’s status as home to the first branch location of the U.S. Mint.
