Warriors' DeMarcus Cousins Will 'Destroy' League Once He's Fit, Ex-NBA Star Says

Former NBA star Elton Brand believes DeMarcus Cousins will "destroy" the league with the Golden State Warriors once he returns from injury.

Cousins made headlines when he signed a one-year, $5.3 million deal with the Warriors, meaning the reigning champions could now be the first team since the Boston Celtics in 1975/76 to field a starting lineup solely of All-Stars.

However, he will only be able to play later on in the regular season due to a torn Achilles tendon he suffered back in January when he was playing for the New Orleans Pelicans. That injury and particularly, the uncertainty that comes with Achilles injuries, is seemingly one of the reasons why Cousins claims he did not have any offers when he was a free agent.

He would then make the call to the Warriors, who had the luxury of being able to sign him and wait for him to continue his recovery.

"I was shocked. I didn’t believe it. It was a rough, pretty emotional night," Cousins said after moving to the Warriors. "I was f----- up. I said to [my agent] Jarinn [Akana], ‘Let’s make a call.’ He was shocked. It was very insulting to not receive an offer. But I understand. I prepared myself for this."

Brand, who played for the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers to name a few, is no stranger to Achilles injuries, having ruptured his Achilles tendon in the 2007/08 season. He would never return to being the same player once he was fit again, but believes the same thing won't happen to Cousins due to the advancements in modern technology.

"When I had mine, it was 10 years ago. I think with today’s technology, with the modalities that they have, it’s different," Brand said, according to 247 Sports. "My opinion? He’ll be better than that. I feel like he’s going to be great. Things move fast. Technology moves fast, modalities move fast, there’s all types of different treatments."

In fact, Brand thinks once Cousins returns to action, rumored to be in between December and February, he will go on to dominate the league.

"People go, 'Oh, Elton Brand said, No one’s ever the same.' But that doesn’t count Cousins. I think he’s going to destroy the league once he comes back," Brand added. "I got a cadaver in mine. And the cadaver didn’t have any hops. So that’s what hurt me."

If Brand's prediction is correct, it is a scary prospect for the rest of the league, particularly the Western Conference.

Cousins is arguably the best center in the NBA right now and averaged an impressive 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.6 blocks in the 48 games he featured for the Pelicans last season. If he returns to his pre-injury form, the Warriors could be looking at a fourth championship in the last five years.