Stamina was the final barrier to DeMarcus Cousins’ Warriors debut

DeMarcus Cousins’ Achilles injury rehab has been long. It’s been arduous.

But thankfully for him and the Golden State Warriors, the process is now complete.

Cousins will make his long-awaited debut on January 18 when the Warriors take on the Los Angeles Clippers.

Before the sources within the team announced when Cousins would return to action, the 6-11, 270-pound all-star center was participating in full practices with the team, and a few days ago, broke through a barrier in the rehab process that was significant to Warriors coach Steve Kerr.

“The last two scrimmages that he’s had, it looked to us and felt to him that he has broken through a barrier,” Kerr said to reporters, according to an article by Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area. “And we were waiting for that barrier. Now that he is though that barrier, and assuming everything goes well... that’s sort of the idea. to get him in sometime that week.”

The Barrier in question? According to Kerr, it was Cousin’s stamina.

“I’m seeing dramatic improvement from him over the last couple of weeks with his wind and ability to run the floor,” Kerr said recently.

Despite the efforts of the Warriors core of young bigs-Kevon Looney, Jordan Bell, and Damian Jones before his injury, they are just not enough to effectively contend with other bigs around the league. Their arrested development rendered Cousins more of a necessity than the luxury that he was projected to be.

Look for the Warriors to continue to incorporate Cousins in their schemes as the second half of the seasons is quickly approaching. Whenever Cousins make his Warriors debut, the plan is for him to play at least 10-12 minutes, followed by any adjustments-recommended or necessary.