DeMarcus Cousins could return for start of the NBA Finals

Former Kentucky Wildcats big man DeMarcus Cousins is closing in on his return, just in time for the NBA Finals.

Cousins went down in just his second-ever postseason game, but in a surprise turn of events, he is supposed to return in time for the start of the finals.

After a dominating career in Sacramento and New Orleans, Cousins opted to take a pay cut and join the two-time defending champs. That said, Cousins has thrived in Golden State up until he torn his left quad in Game 2 of the Warriors’ opening playoff series against the LA Clippers.

While the injury was first through to sideline him the remainder of the postseason, the Warriors, who will make the NBA Finals for the fifth-straight season, have given Cousins’ quad enough time to heal.

Their world-class medical staff certainly deserves some credit as well.

Per Yahoo! Sports’, Cousins is expected to return in time for the start of the NBA Finals, which is set to start May 30 regardless of what happens in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Cousins, according to the same report, also thought he wouldn’t see the floor again after struggling to hobble off the court in Game 2.

“Initially, I thought it was worse than what it was,” Cousins said. “There was obviously a panic, but once the doctors came out and I realized what it was, I gathered myself from a couple of days of frustration, anger, sadness and all of the above. I told myself to get back to work and do it all over again. That’s what I did, and that’s what I’ll continue to do.”

Familiar with the tedious rehab it takes to recover from a major injury, Cousins appears to be in a good mindset towards both his injury and quick return.

In Cousins’ 30 appearances as a Warrior, he scored 16.3 points and hauled down 8.2 rebounds per game.

Game 1 of the NBA Finals is Thursday when the Warriors will host the Raptors.