The Golden State Warriors are patiently awaiting DeMarcus Cousins' return to the court, after missing the last 10 months with a ruptured Achilles that ended his 2017-18 season prematurely. While integrating himself to an All-Star core will prove challenging, the big man is confident it will all figure itself out due to the way this championship team is built.

“Of course, it will be an adjustment period coming in midseason,” DeMarcus Cousins told Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated. “But it is a team full of high IQs, so we will figure it out. Once the ball goes up, it will figure itself out. I trust the coaching staff. I trust my work ethic and our ability to come together. We will see what happens.”

This would be the first time Cousins has played with this much talent in one lineup, but just like Kevin Durant did back in 2016, the big man is trusting the talent level around him will find ways to make the fit seamless.

Cousins was initially expected to return after Christmas, but before the end of the year. That timeline has shifted, as he continues his rehabilitation with the Santa Cruz Warriors of the G League, hoping to gear back into playing shape.

The delay is only one of the many sprinkles of adversity the 28-year-old has seen in his road to full recovery after suffering a daunting and trying injury process.

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“I don’t look at adversity as a bad thing. It is to prepare you for what is next,” Cousins said. “You always go through life wanting to reach ‘that goal’ right away. You may not necessarily be prepared for it. We may think we are. God has a way of preparing you for it by letting you know you’re not ready for it. I look at this year and everything I’ve been through in that form. I’m ready for the next moment.”

Cousins is expected to be closer to playing shape by February, which would only give the All-Star center short of two months to mesh with his new teammates and gear into the postseason, time when the Warriors will expect him to earn his hefty check of $5.3 million for this 2018-19 season.