Dunk in practice gives Cousins encouragement

SANTA CRUZ — Toward the end of his practice Wednesday morning with the G League’s Santa Cruz Warriors, Golden State center DeMarcus Cousins dribbled hard into the key and threw down a one-handed dunk.

It was an encouraging moment for Cousins, who has spent the past 10½ months rehabbing from a torn left Achilles tendon he sustained while with the Pelicans. After his second workout with Santa Cruz in three days, he was pleased with his progress.

“It felt good,” Cousins said. “It’s all coming back for me, slowly but surely. It felt good to get up and dunk a little bit.”

Cousins isn’t necessarily about to debut with Golden State, however. He is still getting his wind back after being sidelined for so long. Though he has shown flashes of his immense skill, Cousins’ movements are far from where they need to be for him to thrive in an NBA game.

At this point, it seems unlikely that Cousins would come back before New Year’s Day. A return later in January or even in February is more plausible.

“He looks as to be expected,” Santa Cruz head coach Aaron Miles said. “He’s coming off an Achilles. He’s going to get his wind back, so I know it’s going to take a while.

“He’s probably not moving as well as he wants to right now, but it’s a process. He’s talented, though. … He’s so skilled, man. He really can pass the ball. That’s the one thing that has impressed me is his passing ability.”

Added Cousins: “My legs are heavy. It’s been a highintensity week for me, a lot of cardio, legs are extremely fatigued.”

In Monday’s session, Cousins played full-court, 5-on-5 for about 20 minutes of game time. Miles didn’t specify the amount of time Santa Cruz scrimmaged Wednesday, but he said that Cousins got in a “good amount” of half-court and full-court work.

Cousins, who will accompany Golden State for its game in Sacramento on Friday, hasn’t decided whether he’ll practice with Santa Cruz again. He is open to the possibility of not only working out with Golden State’s G League affiliate, but of playing a game or two with it if necessary.

“I’m in a good place,” Cousins said. “I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I’m taking it day by day, making sure I get as much as I can out of every day, squeezing the lemon as we like to say around these parts. I’m good, I’m in a good place.”