DeMarcus Cousins is undeniably one of the most talented players in the NBA, but long-term health could be an issue for him as he enters the prime of his career.
Speaking on 1140 KHTK this past week, Cousins said his feet bother him more every year, per Andy Furillo of the Sacramento Bee. Furillo added this in response to that information:
“This is not a good trend for anybody, and even worse for a big man who plays basketball for a living. Hopefully, the platelet therapy will provide relief for Cousins’ pedal extremities. Losing 20 pounds wouldn’t hurt, either.”
As mentioned by Furillo, Cousins is undergoing platelet therapy at this time as he attempts to get healthy enough for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
However, it’s not known if those procedures will be a long-term answer for his developing issue, which potentially could be career threatening.
The All-Star center put up big numbers this past season for the Sacramento Kings, even as he dealt with those painful feet, averaging a career-high 26.9 points, 11.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.
Of course, another potential huge development that could impact Cousins’ career is a trade out of Sacramento. Rumors that the Kings are going to test the trade market for their big man emerged on Friday when general manager Vlade Divac did not exactly throw his support behind keeping Cousins on the roster heading into a new era under a new head coach for the 2016-17 season.
Cousins’ talent has consistently trumped his volatility the past few years, but perhaps the brass in Sacramento finally has seen enough. With Cousins as trade bait, perhaps the organization can make some bold moves to finally turn the corner after years of mediocrity.