DeMarcus Cousins was known as the best center in the NBA for multiple years in the 2010s. He was a skilled center who could do everything. For most of the decade, he was the primary scorer for the Sacramento Kings while also being a playmaker from the center position.
When he got traded to the New Orleans Pelicans, the potential for success was palpable due to his frontcourt partnership with Anthony Davis. It was going well for 65 games, but Boogie suffered a torn left Achilles, which altered the rest of his All-Star career.
“There were a lot of difficult times that I felt out of place… Trying to figure out my personal game within the offense. It was a lot of things against me and on top of that, just having confidence in my movement, doing things I was used to doing,” Cousins said on how he had to adjust for the Warriors after his Achilles tear recovery. “My mind is telling me ‘You can still do it,’ but my body not on the same page. It was very difficult.”
Achilles injuries are one of the most devastating
Due to the physically demanding nature of the sport, injuries are a common challenge for NBA players. While many players can bounce back and regain their peak form from a "regular" injury, an Achilles tear is particularly difficult to overcome, often preventing them from returning to their best.
Cousins and fellow Kentucky Wildcat John Wall are the most prominent recent examples of All-Stars falling from grace after this type of setback. They were seen as two of the best players in the league, but their injuries ruined any chance of returning to their best.
As a mobile center, Cousins and the quick-footed Wall relied heavily on their agility, making a healthy Achilles crucial. With that burst of speed diminished, their careers took a significant hit. Cousins attempted a comeback with the Golden State Warriors but became frustrated as the team faced its injury problems .
“It's obviously been something that's been increasing, the injury. So that being said, hopefully, we can figure out ways besides the ways we have already with injury prevention. There's got to be something to it as to why it's happening so much more now,” DMC said after injuries kept bugging.
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Cousins was not one of the lucky few
Despite it being one of the most devastating injuries a player can suffer, some athletes have managed to recover and make significant contributions to their teams. Dominique Wilkins, for instance, enjoyed an impressive career in the 1980s and 1990s, even after tearing his Achilles.
Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson returned to their best after suffering the same setback. KD was still in the MVP discussion when he returned to the Brooklyn Nets, and Klay kept fighting to return to full form with the Warriors, successfully doing so and winning his fourth championship in 2022 as a starting guard.
Boogie’s recovery didn’t go as hoped, despite having plenty left in the tank. Although his post-injury career didn’t unfold as desired, his prime years with the Kings in the 2010s remain memorable.
Related: “If you can get DeMarcus Cousins, you fu****g get DeMarcus Cousins” – How Draymond Green advocated for Boogie from holiday in Greece
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