Warriors News: Injured DeMarcus Cousins Could Play in G League This Week
Golden State Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins will join the Dubs' G League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors, for practices and potentially even a couple games in the near future to continue his recovery from a torn Achilles.
Kerith Burke of NBC Sports Bay Area reported Friday that Cousins' time in the NBA's developmental league, where he'll join brother Jaleel Cousins, "could happen as early as this week."
The 28-year-old Alabama native sent a shockwave throughout the NBA in July when he signed a one-year contract with the already star-studded Warriors.
"This was my ace of spades. This was my chess move," he told Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated.
Cousins, who suffered the Achilles injury in late January, will now attempt to rebuild his value with Golden State before potentially hitting the free-agent market again next summer.
The University of Kentucky product averaged 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.6 steals across 48 appearances for the New Orleans Pelicans last season before the injury. He ranked sixth among NBA centers in ESPN's Real Plus-Minus.
Santa Cruz has back-to-back home games scheduled next Friday and Saturday against the Sioux Falls Skyforce and Erie BayHawks. Those contests probably represent the best chance for Cousins to see game action in the G League if his participation does advance beyond practice sessions.
He's expected to take over as the Warriors' starting center once back up to full speed.
When everyone is healthy, Golden State will feature a lineup of Cousins, Draymond Green, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry, making them the prohibitive NBA title favorite once again.
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