Golden State Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins has suffered a torn left quad. After injuring the quad in Monday’s game, Cousins received an MRI on Tuesday, where the team found a tear.
The news was first reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Warriors All-Star DeMarcus Cousins has been diagnosed with a torn left quad, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Devastating for Cousins, who had MRI early this morning.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 16, 2019
This is almost surely a season-ending injury for Cousins, though the team is not calling it that yet. The injury will not require surgery, and the Warriors are waiting to see how the injury responds in the coming weeks before declaring him out.
This is probably season-ending for Cousins, but he and the team will see how he responds within the first two weeks of rehab that is not expected to require surgery, sources said. https://t.co/OctIgrMHOS
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 16, 2019
It’s hard not to be heartbroken for Cousins. The four-time All-Star tore his Achilles in January of 2018, which ended up costing him nine figures in free agency. He took the mid-level exception with the Warriors and worked incredibly hard to rehab the injury, before finally returning to the court a year later, in January of this season.
This first round series between the Warriors and Clippers was the first time that Cousins has played in a playoff game.
The team will march forward with increased reliance on Kevon Looney, Andrew Bogut, and small-ball lineups.