Center DeMarcus Cousins made his team debut on Tuesday night, helping the Los Angeles Clippers to a 133-116 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Cousins started the season off with the Houston Rockets, but was waived once the team announced they wanted to prioritize their young players. In limited time behind Rockets star Christian Wood, Cousins showed he could still play, even if it wasn't at the same high level as before his major injuries.

This role with the Clippers that Cousins accepted isn't one that's going to ask him to produce 20-point, 10-rebound double-doubles. Behind Ivica Zubac and Serge Ibaka, DeMarcus Cousins is simply being asked to show that he can stay on the court while providing depth and a different look inside for the opposition.

“I've put an incredible amount of work to get to this place,” Cousins told members of the media postgame. “I feel great, my body feels great. I'm in probably the best shape I've been in my entire career. At this point, it's about going out there and, you know, just putting everything together and just trying to continue to show that I'm healthy and I'm here to play this game at a high level. I understand the situation that I'm in, whatever opportunity is given to me, I plan on just taking full advantage of it, just controlling what I can control.”

The 10-year NBA veteran had seven points, four rebounds, and two assists on 3-of-4 shooting in eight minutes of action Tuesday night. With Serge Ibaka missing extended time due to a back injury, Cousins was immediately able to step into the backup center slot behind Ivica Zubac in his first game in over a month.

“It felt good,” Cousins said of his return to the court. “It's been a little over a month since I actually played in a real NBA game. Felt good. Obviously after the first couple of runs up the floor, everything starts to feel normal again. It is more so habit and instinct that kind of kicks in. The more reps I get, the more comfortable I get on the floor. With each opportunity, I am going to get better.”

Cousins actually said he hasn't had any conversations with head coach Tyronn Lue about the role he'll play on the team. He officially signed with the team Monday afternoon and then participated in practice later that day and shootaround Tuesday morning before being thrown right into the fire against Portland.

Over the last few weeks, the Clippers pulled off the trade for Rajon Rondo, sending away Lou Williams in the process. That, along with the Cousins move, were moves the Clippers felt best fit what they were looking for when evaluating the roster.

DeMarcus Cousins was asked what he felt the Clippers may have lacked prior to his decision to join them. He didn't think there was much of anything.

“I don’t believe this is a team that lacks a lot,” explained Cousins. “It’s a defensive-minded team. I think they are one of the best defensive teams in the league. Obviously they have a two-headed snake in Kawhi and PG and obviously everybody else’s job is to make their job easy. I think this is probably one of the most complete teams in the league. I just bring whatever I can to help this team and elevate it. I don’t really see this team lacking much.”

In joining Rajon Rondo and Patrick Patterson, DeMarcus Cousins teams up with two players he's familiar with and played with multiple times throughout his basketball career. Rondo and Cousins previously played together with the Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans, and Los Angeles Lakers — although Cousins was out the entire year with the Lakers due to a torn ACL. Patterson and Cousins played together in college with the Kentucky Wildcats as well as with the Sacramento Kings early on in both of their NBA careers.

“It's always easier,” Cousins said of having guys on the team he's familiar with and comfortable around. “I mean, it's no different than starting a new school. You always want to go somewhere, or gravitate towards the people that you're a little more comfortable with, but they definitely played a big role in making all of this become possible. Having those past relationships definitely helped.”

For weeks, this team lacked healthy bodies as it tried to claw their way through the Western Conference standings. Patrick Beverley almost missed a month due to knee soreness. Serge Ibaka is likely to miss a month in total with his current back injury. Paul George is dealing with a bone edema injury that flares up from time to time.

DeMarcus Cousins likely won't have a major impact based on the current setup of this roster, nor will he be asked to. But as a backup center for a team that can't seem to rid itself of injuries, it just might work for both parties.

The Clippers take on the Phoenix Suns Thursday night, and it'll be another opportunity for Cousins to show he's still got game left in the tank against his good old buddy Chris Paul.