With Steve Kerr, sometimes there’s no need to ask questions to start a press conference. Example this night, after the qualification of his team, where the coach of the Warriors begins by applauding the beautiful course of the Nuggets. At the heart of the collective congratulations, he says he is happy for one opponent in particular: DeMarcus Cousinspassed by Golden State during the 2018/19 season.
« This guy put his heart into it with us a few years ago and then he went through hell, ruptured Achilles heel, cruciate ligaments. He’s a great guy, a great teammate here and it was really, really nice for me to see him play so well. I can say it now because we won. He did a great series “, qualifies Steve Kerr.
Despite his bloodshed, his former player actually fulfilled his role as Nikola Jokic’s understudy. The 31-year-old was only playing in his third playoff campaign, after last year with the Clippers and his 2019 NBA Finals with the Californians.
In 11 minutes behind the Serbian holder, the pivot brought almost as many points with maximum shooting success (66%). Last night, while his teammate had foul concerns, he signed his best game of the series with 19 points (8/12) and 4 rebounds in 15 minutes. He again showed the quality of his technical palette with 3-point shooting and an always effective post game.
“We needed someone to maintain the ship”
« We needed someone to maintain the ship. That’s what DeMarcus did “, describes Mike Malone, claiming to have hugged his player in the locker room while taking his hat off to him in front of his teammates. ” We are talking about a guy who was waiting at his home in Las Vegas after being released by Milwaukee. “An end of contract with the Bucks, at the beginning of last January, little appreciated by the pivot but ultimately positive for him since he was able to find his former coach at the Kings.
With his performances in the playoffs, the four-time All-Star believes he has proven that he still has his ” place here in this league. I was given the opportunity. I am grateful to Mike Malone. Many doors have closed for me. Mike listened to me and gave me this chance. I just tried to make the most of it. That’s what I did. »
He adds, as Isaiah Thomas might have put it: All I ever wanted was to have the opportunity to do that. “To show that, despite his serious injuries and his instability since leaving the Pelicans, he is still capable of playing at this level.
Enough to see his future enroll in Colorado? This season, he received the veteran minimum ($2 million). ” We will think about the offseason in the coming weeks, when Josh (President)(Cousins) and I will sit down and chat Mike Malone ends.
| DeMarcus Cousins | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Until | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2010-11 | SAC | 81 | 29 | 43.0 | 16.7 | 68.7 | 2.7 | 6.0 | 8.6 | 2.5 | 4.1 | 1.1 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 14.1 |
| 2011-12 | SAC | 64 | 31 | 44.8 | 14.3 | 70.2 | 4.1 | 6.8 | 11.0 | 1.6 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 1.2 | 18.1 |
| 2012-13 | SAC | 75 | 31 | 46.5 | 18.2 | 73.8 | 3.0 | 7.0 | 10.0 | 2.7 | 3.6 | 1.4 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 17.1 |
| 2013-14 | SAC | 71 | 32 | 49.6 | 0.0 | 72.6 | 3.1 | 8.6 | 11.7 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 1.5 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 22.7 |
| 2014-15 | SAC | 59 | 34 | 46.7 | 25.0 | 78.2 | 3.1 | 9.5 | 12.7 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 1.5 | 4.3 | 1.8 | 24.1 |
| 2015-16 | SAC | 65 | 35 | 45.1 | 33.3 | 71.8 | 2.4 | 9.1 | 11.5 | 3.3 | 3.6 | 1.6 | 3.8 | 1.4 | 26.9 |
| 2016-17 * | All Teams | 72 | 34 | 45.2 | 36.1 | 77.2 | 2.1 | 8.9 | 11.0 | 4.6 | 3.9 | 1.4 | 3.7 | 1.3 | 27.0 |
| 2016-17 * | SAC | 55 | 34 | 45.2 | 35.6 | 77.0 | 2.1 | 8.5 | 10.6 | 4.8 | 3.7 | 1.4 | 3.8 | 1.4 | 27.8 |
| 2016-17 * | NOP | 17 | 34 | 45.2 | 37.5 | 77.7 | 2.2 | 10.2 | 12.4 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 1.5 | 3.7 | 1.1 | 24.4 |
| 2017-18 | NOP | 48 | 36 | 47.0 | 35.4 | 74.6 | 2.2 | 10.7 | 12.9 | 5.4 | 3.8 | 1.7 | 5.0 | 1.6 | 25.2 |
| 2018-19 | GOS | 30 | 26 | 48.0 | 27.4 | 73.6 | 1.4 | 6.8 | 8.2 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 1.3 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 16.3 |
| 2020-21 * | All Teams | 41 | 17 | 42.6 | 34.8 | 72.8 | 1.3 | 5.1 | 6.4 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 8.9 |
| 2020-21 * | NEW | 25 | 20 | 37.6 | 33.6 | 74.6 | 1.2 | 6.4 | 7.6 | 2.4 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 9.6 |
| 2020-21 * | LAC | 16 | 13 | 53.7 | 42.1 | 68.2 | 1.4 | 3.1 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 7.8 |
| 2021-22 * | All Teams | 48 | 15 | 46.0 | 30.3 | 76.0 | 1.5 | 4.1 | 5.6 | 1.5 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 9.0 |
| 2021-22 * | THE | 31 | 14 | 45.6 | 32.4 | 73.6 | 1.6 | 3.9 | 5.6 | 1.7 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 8.9 |
| 2021-22 * | MIL | 17 | 17 | 46.6 | 27.1 | 81.6 | 1.4 | 4.4 | 5.8 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 9.1 |
| Total | 654 | 30 | 46.0 | 33.1 | 73.7 | 2.6 | 7.6 | 10.2 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 1.3 | 3.3 | 1.1 | 19.6 | |
