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

Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins suffered a back injury Nov. 22 against the Charlotte Hornets and has yet to return. However, Cousins appears to be close to a return to full fitness.

Continue for updates. 

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Latest on Cousins' Playing Status

Monday, Nov. 30

James Ham of Comcast SportsNet California reported Cousins is probable to play against the Dallas Mavericks.

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Latest on Cousins' Practice Status

Monday, Nov. 30

Ham reported Cousins participated in the entirety of Monday's shootaround.

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Cousins' Injury History and Impact of Absence 

Injuries haven't been a foreign concept to Cousins over the past 12 months. A year after Cousins' 2014-15 campaign was cut short due to a litany of lower leg injuries, the big man dealt with a strained Achilles at the start of this season. 

Fortunately, the injury didn't hamper Cousins too much. Coming into the Nov. 22 game, the All-Star was averaging 27.7 points, 11.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks a night on 43 percent shooting from the field. 

Cousins has also added the three-pointer to his ever-expanding arsenal, having hit 38.9 percent of his 36 attempts from beyond the arc. 

"I think it's explosive, and it also helps your spacing," head coach George Karl said of Cousins' three-point shooting back in October, per the Sacramento Bee's Jason Jones. "It allows the ball freedom to go where it wants to go."

No other Kings player possesses game-changing abilities quite like Cousins, so losing his offensive versatility could hamper the team's spacing and efficiency. 

Rookie Willie Cauley-Stein and sturdy veteran Kosta Koufos will likely be called upon to step up if Cousins misses more time. Those two can provide plenty of defensive stability, but replicating Cousins' offensive repertoire is an impossible task given the myriad ways he affects the game.