DeMarcus Cousins Injury: Updates on Kings Star's Ankle and Return

Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins suffered an ankle injury on Jan. 30 against the Memphis Grizzlies after a collision with Marc Gasol where Gasol rolled over Cousins' ankle. However, he's ready to make his return to the court.

Continue for updates.

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Cousins Active vs. Bulls

Wednesday, Feb. 3

Sam Amick of USA Today reported Cousins will play Wednesday against Chicago. 

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Cousins Is Centerpiece of Kings' Playoff Hopes

The Kings have found out the hard way the last two years just how valuable Cousins is.

When Cousins was out of action with viral meningitis last year, Sacramento went from looking like a possible playoff contender to firing head coach Mike Malone, which was the beginning of the end of the Kings' playoff hopes.

Earlier this year, Cousins strained his right Achilles, and in the aftermath, all of the worst fears surrounding Sacramento became real. The franchise looked to be a model of dysfunction.

However, the Kings have since righted the ship since Cousins returned. They may still struggle to earn a top-eight seed in the loaded Western Conference, but they likely won't be the abject failure on the court and behind the scenes some expected before the year.

Kosta Koufos was a solid addition in the offseason, and he ideally brings some of the rim protection the Kings lack when Cousins is on the court, even if that hasn't been the case for much of this year. Willie Cauley-Stein is also coming into his own at the 5.

No matter what Sacramento does, though, no amount of player rotation can match Cousins' impact on the court. The Kings will need their All-Star big man to remain in the playoff discussion.