It's no secret that DeMarcus Cousins is one the best players in the NBA. He just may be the best center in the league, and he is constantly getting better each year. However, against the Rockets on Friday night, the New Orleans Pelicans center tore his Achilles tendon and will likely miss six to 10 months.

This is a hard blow to the Pelicans' postseason hopes and to the future of Cousins himself. While the injury won't necessarily hinder Cousins' career down the road, it's still a crucial one that raises some serious questions as he heads toward unrestricted free agency in July.

In any case, before the injury, Cousins was playing at an MVP level. In fact, over the past 50 years, four players that have posted the same stats as Cousins have gone on to win the NBA's top individual award.

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Interestingly, the last person to average at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists was Russell Westbrook — the reigning MVP. Cousins is also in good company with legendary players such as Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, all posting similar averages and winning the MVP award.

All of these players are current (or future) Hall of Famers so that just shows how marvelous Cousins performed this season. Still, Cousins was rarely featured in this year's MVP rankings.

While he was brought up in the conversation, the true MVP candidates of this season have often been LeBron James, James Harden, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Cousins posted insane numbers this season and he was still an underrated candidate for the top plum.

This, unfortunately, proves that the NBA is a hotbed for talent and that many deserving players can get overlooked. Yet, in light of Cousins' injury, individuals will finally get to see how his absence will dramatically affect the Pelicans. It's not a good thing, but it may be what it takes to give Cousins his recognition moving forward.