Golden State Warriors: 3 reasons they won’t win the 2019 NBA Finals

3. The DeMarcus Cousins injury

The first and perhaps most important factor that will affect this upcoming season is the health of DeMarcus Cousins. When Cousins first signed with the Warriors, it seemed as if no other NBA team would be able to compete with the Dubs.

Last season, the four-time All-Star had one of the best seasons of his career. For the regular season, he averaged 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.6 steals per game. He was an absolute monster on the glass, having five games in which he pulled in 20 or more rebounds. Boogie also had three games where he scored 40 or more points.

This type of dominance made Cousins the best center in the league. He was on the verge of becoming a superstar and earning himself a huge contract. Then, he ruptured his Achilles tendon. An injury of this significance has been notorious for shortening many careers. Some examples feature legends such as Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.

With an injury this serious, it is uncertain if Cousins will be able to return to full form. This means there will be an internal conflict throughout the season as this former star battles to adjust to a smaller role. If he doesn’t fully recover and can’t accept his new reality, a number of problems will be created for the Warriors.