When Golden State Warriors big man DeMarcus Cousins suffered a quad tear during Game 2 of his team's first-round Western Conference playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers, it looked like his postseason was over.
But now, it looks like Cousins might play at some point during the Western Conference Finals, a truly remarkable development given the original circumstances surrounding the center's injury.
A team source said Cousins “wants to play so damn bad,” and the 28-year-old told Anthony Slater of The Athletic that he is “built different.”
This is Cousins' first taste of playoff basketball, so it's obvious why he wants to return so badly.
After all, this is the entire reason why Cousins signed a one-year prove-it deal with the Warriors last summer. The four-time All-Star was coming off a torn Achilles, and as a result, his free-agent market was very dry.
Cousins then figured he might as well sign a one-year pact with Golden State to not only essentially rehab from the injury, but to have the opportunity to play for a championship.
The University of Kentucky product finally returned the floor in mid-January after missing almost exactly a year, and in 30 games, he averaged 16.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals over 25.7 minutes per game while shooting 48.0 percent from the floor, 27.4 percent from 3-point range and 73.6 percent from the free-throw line.
Cousins is set to be a free agent again this summer.
The Warriors will take on the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday night.
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