DeMarcus Cousins Targeting Return Ahead Of Clippers, Lakers Games in January

Golden State Warriors star DeMarcus Cousins is closing on a return to action after sitting out the entire season thus far with an Achilles injury he suffered almost at the start of 2018 when he was still part of the New Orleans Pelicans.

The center joined the Warriors in free agency in the summer but is yet to make his debut for the reigning champions. Initially, he was expected to return to action after their Christmas Day game against the Los Angeles Lakers, but it did not work out as he had not sufficiently recovered.

Steve Kerr revealed Monday that he is seeing “dramatic improvement” on the fitness front for Cousins and admitted he is close to making a return. The Warriors coach just stopped short of putting a date on his potential comeback.

"I’m seeing dramatic improvement from him over the last couple of weeks, with his wind, his ability to run the floor," Kerr said after practice Monday afternoon, as quoted on the San Francisco Chronicle. "It’s all been pretty exciting. He’s getting closer, but I still don’t have a date for you."

However, according to the New York Times’ Marc Stein, the big center is targeting a return to action for the Warriors’ trip to Los Angeles. Kerr’s side will take on the Clippers on Jan. 18 and then the Lakers on Jan. 21.

“The target range for DeMarcus Cousins' debut with the Warriors is the team's upcoming trip to Los Angeles, nytsports has learned. Golden State plays the Clippers on Jan. 18 and the Lakers on Jan. 21,” Stein wrote on his official Twitter page.

Cousins’ return will be a massive boost to the Warriors team, who were installed as overwhelming favorites to win their third straight NBA championship after his arrival in the summer.

But it remains to be seen if he can have an impact right from the start as he has never played with the Warriors’ starting quartet – Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. If Kerr can embed him without much trouble, the reigning champions are going to get harder to beat.

The Warriors are currently in second place in the Western Conference with a 26-14 record with the Denver Nuggets just ahead having lost two games fewer than the back-to-back champions. Kerr’s side will take on the New York Knicks on Tuesday night and will welcome the Chicago Bulls on Friday before going on a mini road trip to Denver and then Dallas before returning home.