Just when the New Orleans Pelicans had finally started to figure things out, they suffered a huge loss with the season-ending injury to center DeMarcus Cousins. The Pelicans star big man had been in the midst of another stellar performance when he suffered a torn Achilles tendon versus the Houston Rockets.
The loss of Cousins has been felt throughout the entire NBA. Even head coach Alvin Gentry admitted that his injury has deeply affected New Orleans, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.
“We’re scared about it. I feel horrible for him. Everything that he’s done and what he’s made himself and the improvements in all areas that he’s made, on and off the court, it’s just been great. Our guys feel terrible.”
Cousins had been playing perhaps the best basketball of his career in his first full season with the Pelicans. The star big man had been averaging 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. He was also formidable on the defensive end with 1.6 blocks and 1.6 steals per contest.
Now, New Orleans is left with quite the predicament on their hands. Despite their struggles early on in the 2017-18 NBA season, the Pelicans made it clear that they were all in on their star frontcourt duo of Cousins and big man Anthony Davis.
Although Cousins is set to hit free agency this summer, the Pelicans remain adamant about wanting to re-sign him to a long-term deal. That said, the injury could not have come at a worse time for both the Pelicans and the four-time All-Star.
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