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OAKLAND – Bearing both an infectious smile and a calm demeanor, DeMarcus Cousins seemed at ease as he stepped on stage for the Warriors to introduce him.
Cousins’ positive body language did not just reveal his state of happiness for signing with the Warriors and sacrificing relative riches in hopes to help them win their fourth NBA championship in five years. It also captured his state of mind while rehabbing from a left Achilles tendon that he injured nearly seven months ago.
“My expectations, I plan on coming back and being the same dominant player I was, even better actually,” Cousins said at his introductory news conference on Thursday at the Warriors’ practice facility. “Nothing will change.”
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Plenty will change surrounding Cousins’ environment.
He first nursed frustration over losing with the Sacramento Kings for 6 ½ seasons and then over his recent injury last season with the New Orleans Pelicans. Cousins then signed with the Warriors with their taxpayer mid-level exception ($5.3 million) in hopes their winning environment and team-oriented culture will bring out his best.
After averaging 21.5 points on 46 percent shooting and 11.0 rebounds and making four NBA All-Star appearances, Cousins touted his willingness to sublimate those numbers for the sake of fitting in with his All-Star teammates in Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. Both Warriors general manager Bob Myers and Cousins projected he can still offer his blend of low-post dominance, perimeter shooting and passing, a huge upgrade over the Warriors leaning on a plodding Zaza Pachulia and an unpredictable JaVale McGee last season.
“It’s a different dimension. It’s not something we’ve ever had as far as a low-post threat,” Myers said. “I’m excited.”
Before the 6-foot-11, 270-pounder can prove his dominance, though, Cousins first must prove he can overcome an injury that has kept him sidelined since Jan. 27. He has reported completely healing his Achilles before needing to strengthen it.
“Rehab has been going great. I’m getting stronger and better every day,” Cousins said. “I’m progressing weekly, which is a positive. As far as the timetable, we’ll sit down and discuss as a team and figure out what’s the best.”
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What will the Warriors figure out is best?
Myers offered a window into the team’s thinking when he spoke to Cousins before both sides agreed to a deal. Myers’ words: “You deserve to play playoff basketball.”
Myers did not just say that because Cousins has yet to appear in the postseason in his eight-year NBA career. Myers said that because the Warriors will monitor his recovery to ensure Cousins becomes fully healthy when the playoffs start in mid-April.
Therefore, the Warriors will not fret over the likelihood that Cousins will miss the beginning of training camp or even stay sidelined until the next calendar year. How much time, though, would the Warriors like to integrate Cousins as both a starter with four other All-Stars and a staggered role with the reserves?
“Who knows what time. But certainly we’ll have a few months, if not more, before the playoffs to get him acclimated with what we do and for him to get comfortable,” Myers said. “So the goal is to have as much time as we can without rushing him back. We don’t need to throw him out there.”
Perhaps that might explain why 29 other NBA teams appeared reluctant to acquire Cousins. Only the Warriors have enough talent and continuity to absorb Cousins’ prolonged absence.
“I have to be smart about it. I’m in a unique situation as well where I’m not needed right away,” Cousins said. “Time is kind of on my side so I have a chance to get to 100 percent. When I feel I’m at that point, I’ll make the return.”
For further insight in determining that timetable, the 27-year-old Cousins spoke with various former and current NBA players that also injured their Achilles. Those players included one of the NBA’s best dunkers (former Atlanta Hawks forward Dominique Wilkins), one of the league’s best scorers (former Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant), a former teammate (San Antonio Spurs forward Rudy Gay), a dependable NBA role player (Dallas Mavericks guard Wesley Mathews) and a current teammate (Warriors forward Jonas Jerebko).
Each of those players had successes and failures.
After rupturing his right Achilles tendon on Jan. 28, 1992, the 32-year-old Wilkins also averaged 29.9 points on 46.8 percent shooting the next season, a slight increase from the previous year’s output when he averaged 28.1 points on a 46.4 percent clip. Wilkins then played seven more years and made two more All-Star appearances.
After injuring his left Achilles toward the end of the 2012-13 season, the 35-year-old Bryant returned only eight months later. He needed season-ending surgery on his left knee, though, after playing for only six games in the 2013-14 season. Bryant then played 35 games in the 2014-15 campaign before tearing the rotator cuff on his right shoulder. Bryant then retired following the 2015-16 season after averaging 17.6 points on 35.8 percent shooting, his lowest marks since his second NBA season.
After tearing his left Achilles tendon on Jan. 19, 2017, the 31-year-old Gay took a reduced scoring role last season with the San Antonio Spurs (11.9) compared to his career averages (17.8). Yet, he shot a career-high 47.1 percent from the field. After rupturing his left Achilles tendon in the 2014-15 with Portland, Mathews has since posted worse shooting numbers with Dallas in 2015-16 (38.8 percent), 2016-17 (39.3 percent) and 2017-18 (40.6 percent) than his career average through nine NBA seasons (42.7 percent). After missing his entire second NBA season in the 2010-11 season at 23 years old because of a torn right Achilles tendon, Jerebko has since played seven more seasons without any reported issues.
“I wasn’t really looking for a specific answer to get through it. I really just wanted to see what each guy’s mindset was and compared it to my own,” Cousins said. “Some of the positives, I took from it. And some of it I put to the wayside. It’s an injury that can be overcome. I’ll make sure that I prove that.”
Cousins walked around the Warriors’ practice facility on Thursday without any noticeable limp. Showtime, which is producing an upcoming documentary on Cousins, released a clip this week that showed Cousins receiving massage and cold-tub treatment on his left Achilles tendon. Who knows when that means Cousins can begin testing out his Achilles in the weight room and practice court. Medical experts pinpoint the average recovery time to last between eight to 10 months.
“It’s the worst, honestly. Just waking up every day doing the same exact thing, it can drive you crazy,” Cousins said. “But I take it as a test. It’s just another obstacle to overcome and I use that as fuel to get to the next step. Then I continue the process. It’s tough. No lie. But I know where I want to be. I know what I’m capable of. And I look forward to getting back on the floor.”
And once that happens?
“My main goal is to win a championship. That’s what I’m signing up for,” Cousins said. “I bring a toughness. I bring a skillset that they’ve never had before with rebounding, passing and ability to score. I’m bringing a little bit of everything and a couple of [technicals] along the way.”
Cousins spoke in a playful tone about his technical fouls. He spoke seriously, however, about both his championship aspirations and return to dominance. And he did so while appearing at peace with his new circumstances.
“I’m stubborn. I love that about myself,” Cousins said. “I never quit. I’m a fighter. I feel like I can overcome that. I’ll continue with that mindset.”
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