Pectoral injury aside, center Jones accents the positive

Warriors center Damian Jones plopped in the interview chair with his left arm in an elaborate sling. He was fresh off doing some leg work in the weight room, but he will not get work done on the basketball court anytime soon.

Jones will miss the rest of the regular season, and probably the playoffs as well, after tearing his left pectoral muscle Dec. 1 at Detroit. Even so, he struck a philosophical tone Sunday in addressing reporters at length for the first time since his injury.

“I try to look at the positives,” Jones said. “Being depressed about it is not going to get me anywhere. It happened, so you’ve just got to think about the recovery.”

Jones made 22 starts this season, becoming the lead cog in Golden State’s young centerby-committee plan. He averaged 5.4 points and 3.1 rebounds, struggled mightily at times and showed flashes of promise at other times.

Now he’s sidelined indefinitely in the wake of surgery, not expected to launch even his rehabilitation until mid-January. Head coach Steve Kerr said Jones would be out “five or six months,” meaning the soonest he could return is May.

That leaves a sliver of hope he could join the Warriors late in the postseason. More likely, he will target training camp ahead of the 2019-20 season.

“Whenever that time comes …,” Jones said. “In the meantime, I’ll try to work my way back.” Cousins to Santa Cruz: DeMarcus Cousins will practice with Golden State’s G League affiliate in Santa Cruz on Monday and Wednesday. The Warriors’ center is entering the final stages of his rehab from a torn left Achilles tendon.

The plan is for Cousins to get in some 5-on-5 scrimmaging with Santa Cruz. He’ll join Golden State at Oracle Arena for Monday night’s game against Minnesota, practice with the NBA club Tuesday and return to Santa Cruz for another workout Wednesday.

Golden State has no plans for Cousins to play any games with Santa Cruz. Iguodala to bench: Draymond Green’s return Monday likely sends Andre Iguodala back to the bench. Iguodala started 11 of the past 12 games.

Chronicle staff writer Connor Letourneau contributed to this report.