DeMarcus Cousins’ Game 2 quad injury may have bought him another season with the Golden State Warriors.
The Golden State Warriors secured arguably the bargain of the offseason when they signed former superstar DeMarcus Cousins to just over a $5 million contract. The NBA world was losing its mind.
Cousins played just 30 regular season games with Golden State. He returned in the second half of the season after fully recovering from his Achilles tendon tear that left him sidelined for the majority of the season.
After nine seasons, three of which he averaged over 25 points per game, Cousins finally made a postseason appearance. In his first postseason game, Cousins scored just nine points on 4-for-12 from the field, being shut down by Montrezl Harrell and Ivica Zubac.
Then, during Game 2, Cousins, who was running after a loose ball, went down without anyone hitting him. He immediately gripped his thigh, and the entire Oracle Arena held their breath. It wasn’t shocking to later hear that Cousins tore his quad.
It’s not a career-ending injury for Cousins, but it’ll have a similar effect on his career as his late-season Achilles injury. It will cost him millions. Cousins would’ve been one of the prized free agents had he stayed healthy.
However, he’ll be looking at another discounted contract due to situations that he’s got no control over. His Achilles injury cost him a max, and this injury could’ve cost him an eight-figure deal this offseason.
Given his size and dominance, Cousins was able to continue to score at a high volume even after having his athleticism limited, so there is still hope for his return to prominence.
Seeing Cousins in the postseason was a treat for fans. Now, they’ll likely get to see Cousins next year as well. Cousins, as he did during the 2018 offseason, won’t get what he’s truly worth, and it’s because of these career-altering injuries.
That said, this is the perfect scenario for Cousins to return to Golden State. He’d yet again be able to take his time in recovery while being able to join a winning culture, hopefully reaching and competing in the postseason next year as well.
Cousins averaged 16.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game this season, and if he’s going to take under $6 million to return, then it’s likely he’ll find himself back in the Bay in 2020.