The impending return of DeMarcus Cousins has been long awaited, as the Golden State Warriors have battled their share of injuries early on this season, waiting until he's able to take the floor again. Head coach Steve Kerr has grown tired of the incessant questions about his potential return after the big man was assigned to the Santa Cruz Warriors of the G League to continue his recovery.

Cousins was initially expected to return after Christmas Day, but despite not suffering a setback, a report by The San Francisco Chronicle stated his return would likely have to wait until February, at least five weeks more than the previously anticipated timetable for his return.

Following a win against the Memphis Grizzlies, the Warriors coach doubled down on that notion.

“We’re not really that close,” said Kerr, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic. “I don’t want this to be about: ‘Hey, we’re right there.’ We’re not right there. It’s still going to be some time. We’re going to be patient and continue to give DeMarcus the space he needs to prepare. When the time is right, we’ll have some things planned for him.”

The Warriors are in no rush to bring Cousins back — and that, is one of the key reasons the All-Star center took the mid-level exception of $5.3 million to join Golden State.

Cousins is in a low-to-no-pressure situation and he's been asked to only come back when he feels 100 percent secure with his movement and stability.

An Achilles rupture, like the one he's coming back from, usually takes up to a calendar year to fully heal. Considering his height at 6-foot-11 and weight of 270 pounds, the sheer torque going into his movements could prove challenging to regain — hence the Warriors' imminent care and desire to err in the side of caution.