DeMarcus Cousins shares encouraging workout video ahead of free agency

It’s been a rough couple of years for DeMarcus Cousins. In 2018, Cousins suffered a full rupture of his left Achilles tendon a few months before he was expected to cash-in on a long-term, big-money deal. Cousins was able to play a handful of games the following season, including six games in the NBA Finals with the Golden State Warriors, but he suffered another serious injury in the process: a torn left quadriceps muscle.

Fortunately for Cousins, he didn’t have to undergo surgery to repair his left quadricep muscle because he didn’t rupture his tendon. However, just as he was preparing for what he was hoping would be a bounce-back season with the Los Angeles Lakers, alongside his former New Orleans Pelicans teammate Anthony Davis, Cousins suffered yet another devastating injury: a torn ACL in the same leg his two previous injuries were in. He hasn’t seen the court since.

That was over a year ago, though. Now in October, Cousins is taking advantage of the few extra months he has to get his legs back under him as a result of the four-month the NBA went on in March, and on Tuesday, he posted a video of how he’s progressing.

The video also included a message from Cousins, who seems eager to get back on the court and re-enter the conversation as the best center in the NBA:

“I’m workin’. I just feel like I went back into the lab and critiqued everything about myself. My mindset is different, my understanding is way beyond what it was before. I’m an all-around player. I can do everything. I can play any position. I feel like I was one of the originators for bigs that could do that.

“The big men are represented at an all-time high. I’m grateful for that. I’ve just got to get what’s mine. That’s all it is. It’s ain’t nothin’ personal.”

Cousins will be technically be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but with how connected he’s been with Lakers since he was waived, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him come back — in fact, it would be more surprising if he wasn’t on the roster next season.

The bigger questions marks with Cousins are where he fits into the roster, and how much he can actually help. Cousins clearly believes he’ll be able to return to his All-Star form, but the injuries he suffered over the last few years are the most devastating injuries an athlete can suffer. As a result, he’ll have to prove he’s a rotation player in the NBA before he can prove he’s still the best center in the NBA.

Obviously the hope is that Cousins will be able to bounce back from his injuries and have a successful season in Los Angeles, but we have to be realistic, especially when a person in his position has no choice but to be optimistic. Here’s to hoping for Boogie’s bounce-back.

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