LOS ANGELES — After missing almost an entire year as he recovered from a torn left Achilles injury, Golden State Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins made his season debut on Friday night, scoring 14 points, grabbing six rebounds and dishing out three assists in a 112-94 win over the LA Clippers.
Cousins, who started and played 15 minutes before fouling out in the fourth quarter, received support from fans and his teammates throughout the night.
On the Warriors’ first offensive possession, Cousins got the ball in the post and was cheered by many of the sellout crowd inside Staples Center before missing an up-and-under shot while defended by Clippers big man Marcin Gortat.
A few moments later, Cousins worked a pick-and-roll with Kevin Durant that ended with a dunk as his teammates jumped and cheered on the bench.
The support for Cousins was palpable throughout the game, both from the bench and on the floor. Warriors forward Draymond Green picked up a technical foul in the first half, arguing on behalf of Cousins for a foul that was not called.
It was a moment that teammates and coaches had been looking forward to for while.
“The process is not over,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said before the game. “I think that’s the main takeaway — it’s in the middle. It’s been a year since his injury. He’s gone through a long rehab process. But this is almost like training camp for him. He’s gonna go out there, the game is gonna be moving fast, and he’s gotta get his legs underneath him. He’s gotta feel comfortable with his new teammates, his new uniform — whichever one of the 11 we’re wearing tonight, I’m not sure.
“And these things take time. So I think that’s the biggest message, is — this is not the end of the story, this is sort of the middle of the story. And it’s a milestone, but there’s a long way to go.”
While Cousins’ numbers weren’t up to his usual high averages as he makes his way back from injury, his 14 points and five rebounds were already higher than the season averages by the Warriors’ other starting centers this season (6.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG), according to ESPN Stats and Information.
Cousins’ performance came as his mother, Monique, and several family and friends watched from a suite inside the arena. After months of rehab and recovery, the All-Star center was clearly happy to be back on the floor.
After his early dunk, he broke out a familiar snarl to celebrate, reminding the rest of the league that he was back. After two 3-pointers at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Cousins put three fingers in the air to celebrate. After fouling out early in the fourth, Cousins received high-fives from teammates and coaches up and down the bench before making his way to his seat.
Now it will be up to Cousins and the Warriors to build upon the momentum created in his return. The Warriors next game is Monday night against the Los Angeles Lakers.