NBA return to play: DeMarcus Cousins set to sit out restart, prepare for 2020-21
DeMarcus Cousins will sit out restart, prepare for 2020-21 NBA season
After sustaining a torn ACL injury before the start of the 2019-20 season, it was expected that DeMarcus Cousins likely wouldn’t play at all this season. That much was all but confirmed when the Los Angeles Lakers waived him in February.
However, when the NBA rushed into a hiatus amid the COVID-19 pandemic, all bets were off. Now that the league is set to restart in late-July, there was at least a small glimpse of hope that Cousins would be able to return this season.
However, almost predictably, Cousins has elected to sit out the restart in an attempt to prepare for free agency and the 2020-21 season. After a second major injury in three seasons, it’s probably the best course of action anyway.
Without a set team, it was going to be difficult for Cousins to carve out any role with a new team. With just eight games before the start of the playoffs, any team is going to find difficult in acclimating new players. Even those as talented as Cousins.
Sources: Multiple teams have expressed interest in DeMarcus Cousins but have been told the four-time All-Star will sit out the resumed season and continue rehab for full return in 2020-21.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 23, 2020
It’s not surprising to see that there was interest in Cousins from teams. Even after his Achilles injury, he did show flashes of promise.
The last time we saw DeMarcus Cousins
During the 2018-19 regular season, Cousins averaged 16 points, eight rebounds, and four assists per game on 48 percent shooting from the field for the Golden State Warriors. He played sparingly during the playoffs but never seemed to fit seamlessly on the shortened rotation.
Cousins was set to play a big role on the Lakers this season but was unfortunately lost for the year in offseason workouts before training camp. It’ll be interesting to see how Cousins emerges next season. Even at the age of 30 (which he will be when the 2020-21 season starts), and after two major injuries, there’s still plenty that Cousins could offer.
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It’ll be important for DeMarcus Cousins to land in the right spot and with the right team. It appears he wants to embrace the process and get back to 100 percent before he jumps right back into action. What more would you expect?