DeMarcus Cousins and the Golden State Warriors went up against the Phoenix Suns on the road as a 16.5-point favorite, which means, even on a bad day in terms of their high standards, they should be able to crumple the Suns and throw at the nearest wastebasket with ease.

However, Cousins was not the type to allow the obvious mismatch limit his opportunity to play get diminished. Here’s the big man pleading for the Warriors’ coaching staff not to take him out, via Basketball Breakdown.

Cousins did get enough action on the court, though, to record his most minutes in a game since returning from an Achilles injury. He played in 27 minutes against the Suns and finished with 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting from the floor to go with five rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block in a 117-107 victory. Draymond Green’s ejection at the end of the third quarter also had a trickle-down effect on Cousins’ minutes.

Cousins could also still be trying to adjust to the fact that he’s no longer the alpha male of the franchise he’s playing for. While he used to enjoy heavy usage back in his Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans days, his time with the Golden State Warriors necessitates him to fit in and be mindful of his minutes, as he’ll have to co-exist with a bunch of other stars in the forms of Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green.

Cousins could see some more playing time this coming Sunday against Hassan Whiteside and the Miami Heat at home.