OAKLAND — DeMarcus Cousins had never suffered a major injury throughout his eight-year NBA career, but that all changed Jan. 26. Cousins ruptured his Achilles as he attempted to rebound a missed free throw with fewer than 15 seconds remaining in a game the Pelicans led by four points.
Cousins was well on his way to a career year this past season. He averaged 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in 48 games played.
Cousins did not know exactly what the recovery entailed, so he phoned several players who overcame the same injury. That included legends Kobe Bryant and Dominique Wilkins. Cousins also spoke with Rudy Gay, Wesley Matthews, and recently signed Warrior Jonas Jerebko.
“I wasn’t really looking for a specific answer to get through it,” Cousins said during his Warriors’ introductory press conference Thursday. “I really just wanted to see what each guy’s mindset was and compare it to my own. Some of the positives I took from it and some I just put to the way side. It’s an injury that can be overcome. I will make sure I prove that.”
Bryant, who was 34 at the time, famously suffered an Achilles rupture before sinking consecutive free throws in a 2013 matchup with the Warriors. He did not participate fully in practice for another seven months. He made his official return nearly nine months after the injury.
It took Matthews eight months to return. Gay suffered his Achilles injury Jan. 19 of 2017 and returned by the following season’s opener on Oct. 18.
Achilles injuries are among the hardest to return from, making the recovery period long and draining.
“It’s the worst, honestly,” Cousins said. “Just waking up every day, doing the same exact thing. It can drive you crazy. But I take it as a test, just another obstacle to overcome, I just use that as fuel to get to the next step.”
Cousins said there is no specific date either he or the Warriors have targeted for a return. He said rehab has gone well and that he has progressed weekly.
“I have to be smart about it,” Cousins said. “I am in a unique situation where I am not needed right away. Time is kind of on my side, so I have a chance to get to 100 percent. When I feel like I am at that point, we will make the return.”