LOS ANGELES – Less than a minute into his first game as a member of the LA Clippers, DeMarcus Cousins maneuvered his way to Enes Kanter, made an offensive rebound and scored in a setback in front of an enchanted Clippers owner Steve Ballmer.
Debuting with the team after signing a ten-day contract on Monday, Cousins ’seven points, four rebounds and two assists in seven minutes during the Clippers’ 13-1-116 Portland Trail Blazers victory Tuesday at Staples Center .
“It was fantastic,” said Paul George, who hit six triples and finished with 36 points. “He’s an All-Star. He’s still one of the most skilled greats in the league. He can finish, he bounces. I thought you’d seen a little bit of everything tonight and he showed he still had a lot to give.”
The Clippers is Cousins ’last stop, as serious injuries threatened his career as an All-Star. The cousins ripped off their Achilles heels in 2018 with the New Orleans Pelicans and had a long rehab before returning. He then suffered a quadriceps tear during the first round of the playoffs with the Golden State Warriors in 2019. He returned and played in the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors and then joined the Los Angeles Lakers, only to start the his ACL before 2019 Season 20 began.
After losing all last season, Cousins returned and played 25 games with the Houston Rockets this season before being released. It has been a grueling and long road back.
“I’ve put in an incredible amount of work to get to this place,” Cousins said. “I feel really good, my body feels really good. I’m probably in the best shape I’ve ever had in my entire career. Right now, it’s about going out there and just putting it all together and trying keep proving that I am healthy and I am here to play this game at a high level.
“I understand the situation I find myself in. Whatever opportunity is offered to me, I intend to make the most of it and control what I can control.”
Cousins provides the Clippers with much-needed depth in the middle and Serge Ibaka (back) misses his twelfth straight game. The Cousins set up screens, withdrew two offensive rebounds and fouled to go to the line four times in their first game since Feb. 17.
“The cousins were good,” Clippers head coach Ty Lue said. “[It’s] just hard because he doesn’t know so many plays now, so they limit us offensively. But it is a problem [for opponents]. It’s a big load, you can post, you can shoot the 3, you can pass the basketball. … Just putting him in shape and adapting him to what we try to do offensively and defensively, but we already know he’s a great talent. ”
Cousins also has some familiarity with this Clippers team. He was teammates with recently acquired Rajon Rondo, and played with George on the 2016 U.S. Olympic team and with Patrick Patterson at the University of Kentucky.
Cousins said he doesn’t see many weaknesses in the Clippers, who have won two in a row with defeats over the Lakers and Blazers.
“Viouslybviament, they have a two-headed snake in Kawhi [Leonard] and PG, “Cousins said.” And obviously everyone’s job is to make their job easier. I think it’s probably one of the most complete teams in the league. I only carry everything I can to help this team and elevate it. I really don’t see this team missing much. “
George said he hopes Cousins will regain his All-Star form with the Clippers.
“He can really play at a high level,” George said. “So I’m looking forward to him getting into a slot, seeing the ground and being a great teammate for us.”