The pros and cons of DeMarcus Cousins joining the Golden State Warriors
By KC Whitten
Con: Cousins’ Achilles
History has proven that NBA players who suffer through this type of injury rarely return to form. Elton Brand through his first nine seasons averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. Over the nine seasons following the injury, he averaged only 10 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.
In an interview with Insidesocal.com in 2013, he stated the following in regards to playing after the injury.
"“Once I started playing, mentally for me it was tough for me to jump off my left foot again. I didn’t have the same explosiveness that I had. I regained and then I relost it. I didn’t have it. I had to change my game a little bit where I jumped off two feet and I was a little bit slower.”"
Of the 18 players who tore their Achilles from 1988-2011, only one has recovered fully and returned to form. Following Dominique Wilkins‘ Achilles tear in 1992, he averaged 28 points per game over the next two seasons following the injury.
Assuming Cousins is able to return in January, it’s going to take time for him to get back into game shape. Also, he will be adjusting to a new system. Golden State is a team that plays an up-tempo system, something Boogie hasn’t experienced throughout his NBA career. A January return gives him only thee and a half months before the playoffs to learn their style, and become acclimated to playing with Durant, Curry, Thompson and Green. That’s really not enough time to become fully comfortable.
It took Boogie and the Pelicans nearly a year of playing together before things really started to click. They struggled ending the 2016-17 season after he was acquired in February 2017. After going through training camp, and the first couple of months of the season, he and the Pelicans finally began to hit their stride in December.
Cousins’ goal next season is to earn a big money contract next summer. Golden State will have limited cap flexibility in 2019-20, and should use its available money to re-sign Klay Thompson in free agency. If that’s the case, Boogie’s time in Oakland will be short.