NBA Rumor: DeMarcus Cousins Injury

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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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.”
4 years ago via ESPN

“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. “
4 years ago via ESPN

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.”

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.
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Jonas Valanciunas would like extension with Pelicans

Valanciunas also talked about his future in the NBA with the New Orleans Pelicans. The Lithuanian big man revealed he would like to stay with the Pelicans. “We had some talks with [the team]. I think this summer won’t be easy for them [team executives] because they will have to make a few key decisions. Our season didn’t go as planned, so there will definitely be changes,” Valanciunas said. “I would like to stay and extend my contract,” JV continued. “Obviously, during the season, you try to help the team as much as possible, but when the summer comes, you try to take care of your own things – how to extend the contract and stuff.”
In an interview with Kestas Rimkus from 24sek.lt, the 31-year-old talked about his situation in the NBA, a possible return to the EuroLeague, and the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup. “I can see myself playing for a European club,” Valanciunas revealed Kestas Rimkus from 24sek.lt “I felt sympathy for European basketball for the whole of my life, so I would not rule such a possibility in the future.” “At this moment, I prefer teams with Lithuanian connections, including Barcelona with Saras and Rokas [Jokubatis]. Whether I’ll play there one day? It’s difficult to say. It’s two different things to support and play for the team,” Valanciunas added.
The Home of Glory Twitter account made this announcement on Tuesday, while Mundo Deportivo sources say Mirotic’s departure is a “very real possibility.” According to BasketNews sources, the two sides have already had a few conversations about solving the current contract, but there’s still no agreement in place. Per Mundo Deportivo, it is hoped that these discussions can progress swiftly to reach a satisfactory resolution for all parties involved.
Sources say Henderson is also very interested in Charlotte’s situation and would welcome hearing his name called second, as much due to geographic proximity to his hometown of Marietta, Georgia, as the excitement over new ownership that is potentially taking over the Hornets organization this summer. If that doesn’t materialize, landing in Portland and being mentored by Damian Lillard is also viewed as an attractive option.
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