The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a tough blow with the loss of DeMarcus Cousins to a torn ACL.
The Los Angeles Lakers were dealt a tough blow this summer with the loss of DeMarcus Cousins to a torn ACL. According to Shams Charania, Cousins has indeed suffered another major injury.
Since becoming one of the best big men in the game, Cousins has had a few tough years when it comes to injuries.
After being dealt to the New Orleans Pelicans, Cousins tore his Achilles. Alongside Anthony Davis and Rajon Rondo, the Pelicans looked like they were heading in the right direction with that trio healthy.
This past summer, Cousins took a one-year deal with the Golden State Warriors to prove what he could do after the Achilles tear, and to get a ring. After he finally returned to the lineup, Cousins averaged 16.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game.
While those numbers were quite what he was doing before the Achilles tear, they were certainly a step in the right direction. Unfortunately for Cousins, he then tore his quad in first round of the playoffs.
Cousins was able to make it back for the NBA Finals, however, he was nowhere near the player we are used to seeing. The poor showing in the Finals likely hurt Cousins in free agency, and the Lakers were able to get him for a bargain on a one-year deal.
While Cousins didn’t look good in the NBA Finals, he was working very hard this offseason to get in great shape for next season. If Cousins was healthy and somewhat back to form, he was figuring to be a big part of the Lakers next season.
As a big man that can really do it all when healthy, Cousins was going to be a valuable part of the Lakers. Since Cousins is a center, he would have allowed the Lakers to play Anthony Davis primarily as a power forward, which is where he likes to be.
The loss of Cousins will also hurt the Lakers’ scoring depth, as he had the potential to be a player that could give them anywhere from 15-25 points a night depending on how healthy he was. Even though he wasn’t paid a lot this summer, Cousins could have been the X-Factor for the Lakers this season.
Hopefully, Cousins will be able to make yet another great comeback. As one of the most talented bigs in the NBA a few years ago, we hope Boogie is back on the court soon.