DeMarcus Cousins Injury Video: Lakers Confirm ACL Setback, NBA Fraternity Devastated

DeMarcus Cousins suffered yet another setback in his quest to find his best form ahead of the new season after Los Angeles Lakers confirmed the big center has suffered torn ACL during practice Thursday in Las Vegas. The Lakers center’s injury hell continues despite his best efforts to get back to full fitness ahead of the 2019-20 campaign.

“Lakers center DeMarcus Cousins suffered a torn ACL in his left knee, which was confirmed by his agent, Jeff Schwartz, of Excel Sports Management on Thursday,” the Lakers said in a statement on their official website.

Cousins will certainly find it difficult to take the latest setback in his stride as it is his third major injury in the space of 19 months. He first suffered a torn Achilles in January 2018 an injury that kept him out for over a year before he returned to play 30 games for the Golden State Warriors.

He suffered a torn quad during the 2019 NBA playoffs, which saw him miss just over a month before he returned and played two games in the 2019 NBA Finals. He signed for the Lakers in free agency on a one-year deal and was hoping to get back to his best in order to earn a long-term deal next summer.

The ACL injury will be devastating for the center as it is likely to see him again miss almost the entirety of the 2019-20 campaign. He is expected to undergo surgery in the coming days and begin rehabilitation, but it will be at least eight months before Boogie can return to the court.

The NBA was in unison to wish Cousins well after hearing of his ACL injury – a number of players sent their prayers to the player while his former coach Steve Kerr was also devastated on hearing the news about yet another setback.

“I’m devastated for DeMarcus,” Kerr said, as quoted on NBA.com. “I read about it on the way to practice and it’s been a couple years of hell for DeMarcus with the injury -- first the Achilles and then last year in the playoffs with the quad."

"I was really hoping that this year for him upcoming with the Lakers would be a year for him to get healthy, get his rhythm and conditioning and really start his comeback, so we’re all crushed for him. All these guys in this gym, fellow players and coaches. You know, this is a small community and everybody’s been talking about it. We’ve all reached out to him and you just feel terrible for him.”