In this episode of the Draymond Green Show, host Draymond Green interviews former All‑Star center DeMarcus Cousins about the chaotic period surrounding his Achilles injury, the false "2‑for‑40" contract rumor, and his eventual move to the Golden State Warriors. Cousins explains how his injury halted a max‑contract trajectory with the New Orleans Pelicans, details a tense post‑surgery meeting with Pelicans executive Dale Dimples that left him feeling unwelcome, and describes the Pelicans’ decision to move on by signing Julius Randle. He recounts how Green’s urgent call from a vacation in Santorini led to a Warriors opportunity, the rehab process, and his first game back highlighted by a dunk on Kyle Kuzma. Cousins reflects on the mental and tactical challenges of fitting into the Warriors’ high‑IQ offense, crediting the team’s support for his successful integration. The segment also includes a brief DraftKings sportsbook plug by Colin Cowherd. The conversation provides insight into contract negotiations, injury recovery, team dynamics, and personal decision‑making in the NBA.
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Welcome to the brand new Draymond Green Show YouTube channel. Hit subscribe so you don't miss out on any of our content. You came to the Warriors on a 1-year, I think at the time maybe it was like $5.8 million deal. The news on the street was that you turned down 2 for 40 from New Orleans.
Yeah.
A, is the 2 for 40 true? When you look back on the decision also to come to the Warriors, As it stands today, how do you feel about that decision as well?
So one, no, that's not true. Dale Dimples kick rocks. But so when I blew my Achilles, it was a little bit right before All-Star break. That year I was voted All-Star starter. That was my first time. Had a lot of things going my way. So I was on pace to getting a max contract, like full max contract. And I think it might've been like $175 at the time, something like that. So, you know, that was understood.
Yeah. Penny right there.
So when the Achilles injury happened, you know, I went out to LA, had the surgery. And then at that point I just kind of separated from the team. You know, having an injury of that magnitude, it can low-key kind of be a distraction to even be around. Me being a vital part of that team, like, you know, it was a blow to the team. So my thing was, you know, let me kind of remove so those guys can stay locked in for the rest of the season. So I went out to LA, you know, went through my process of healing and maybe a week into after my surgery, you know, Dale Demps reached out and, The Pelicans actually were coming out that way. They had a road trip between LA, the two LA teams.
Okay.
West Coast, Draymond Green road trip. So anyway, you know, he came through, he came to visit me. And initially with the visit, you know, it was to come check on me. Like I said, this was a week later. So I'm just thinking, you know, he coming to check on me, holler, whatever, whatever. He's probably there maybe 10 minutes in the midst of that, you know, he starts talking contracts. I don't have an agent around, anything like that. It's just me, you know, my day-to-day manager. I had a couple doctors with me, you know, going through my process. So he's talking to me, he starts mentioning the contract. And you know how this go, we don't negotiate. That's what our agents are for. Absolutely. That's not my job. So once he started, you know, kind of talking about it and he never mentioned numbers or anything, he just kind of started the conversation of, you know, your value has dropped since the injury or whatever. So I kind of look at him and I'm kind of like in shock, like you even really having this conversation while I'm sitting here like this. So I kind of got a little frustrated and I'm like, you know what? Like, I'm not really in the space. Like to do this. So, you know, we finished the evening, we go our separate ways. So before he left, you know, I was like, I'd rather not, I'd rather not speak again until, you know, the start of free agency. Like, 'cause I wasn't appreciative of that moment. And I let it be known to my agent as well. And I was like, if there's anything that really needs to be said, you can just, you know, holla at my agent. Like, so I didn't hear, from Dale Demps until the start of free agency. And, you know, we kind of had our, I talked to a few teams, you know, that day and, you know, which don't really, they don't matter now, but with Dale Demps, you know, he took offense to me not wanting to speak. So then it was, you know, the conversation was, we don't want you back. You were difficult to deal with. So I'm like, all right, you know, I'm like, damn, like in my head, I'm like, damn, like you don't even want me back? Like, you know, so get on the phone with my agent and I'm like, this motherfucker just told me he didn't want me back. So now I'm kind of like lost. Like, 'cause going into this whole thing, I'm like, I know it's gonna be figured out.
Absolutely.
Just weren't a playoff team the year before, we're now a playoff team. We had a lot of success in a short time. So I'm like, I know they're gonna try to keep this team together. I brought Rondo in, we had Drew Holliday. So we had a night, we had a really good core. And so my whole mindset was like, I know it'll get figured out, whatever it is. So, you know, once I heard the words, you know, we don't want you back at all. You know, my mind kind of shift and it's just like, damn, like, you know, what am I doing now? So now I know like, I'm not, I know I'm not getting the max 'cause the team that can pay it to me doesn't even want me. And I think for the most part throughout the league, it was kind of figured that I would be back with New Orleans. Uh-huh.
Mm-hmm.
So, you know, we kind of had that conversation and then I'm not really sure of the timeline, but they ended up signing Julius Randle. So for me, I'm like, well, you know, there's my money. Like, you know what I mean? So they obviously, they really moved on. So, you know, At this point, I'm like, damn, this is a fucked up situation. But I know the reality of my situation, which is I have a blown Achilles. I probably won't be back next year. It's just a difficult time. So, I get on the phone with my agent and we kind of figure out a game plan as to how can I maneuver through this and still find a way to be successful. And he kind of mentioned the Warriors and I'm like, that would make sense.
Mm-hmm.
I could rehab. Mm-hmm. You know, I can come in, you know, once I'm healthy and, you know, just kind of help the team move forward. And I can still remain with some type of value.
Mm-hmm.
You know what I mean? And then I could go on and, you know, continue my career. So that was kind of the game plan and that's how it was introduced to me. And, you know, that's more so how it played out. But to answer that question, you know, I took a lot of scrutiny for, you know, that so-called, deal that was offered to me. But like I said, we never had a conversation about a deal in general. Like no numbers, no years, anything was offered. So I don't to this day know where that rumor came from.
Man, I think I still remember getting that call. I was sitting in Santorini, Greece on vacation at dinner with my wife. Was having dinner on the cliff looking over the water.
Life flex.
And Bob, And Bob called me and Bob was like, "Yo." He's like in a panic, almost like hyperventilating. Like, "Yo, yo, like it's crazy what's going on back here. I know you on vacation, like, but I think we can get to Marcus Cousins. What you think?" And I'm like, "Bob, what? Like, what are you talking about?" Right. He's like, "I think we can get to Marcus Cousins." Right. He's like, what do you think? How you feel about that? Like when I talked to him, he seems like he in, but he need to talk to you and Steph. And he really needs to talk to you because I guess y'all got into it or something. And I said, number one, Bob, that's no issue. No issue at all. So number two, Bob, if you can get DeMarcus Cousins, You fucking get DeMarcus Cousins. I don't care who may feel a way. If you can get DeMarcus Cousins, you get DeMarcus Cousins. And I remember that whole thing playing out. And you ended up on the team doing your rehab. You came back, first game back, dunk on Kyle Kuzma. So now you're rehabbing from an Achilles injury. I'd imagine not really feeling like yourself when you come back. Mm-hmm. Then you dunk on Kuz right away. You had that play, which is like, oh, that's like, that's prom DeMarcus. In the moment when that play happens and you like, at that moment, do you feel like, oh, I'm back, I'm good? Or was that just one hurdle that you had to jump over coming back from?
I would say it was a hurdle I had to jump over. You know, it was a lot for me even, you know, coming back, learning the system, you know. And it's like, in that offense, like, it's, people think it's just so free-flowing, but it takes a lot of IQ to play in that, and your IQ never turns off. It's not just an athletic type system. It's a lot of thinking in between. So learning that on the fly, learning how to play off, you know, the tendencies of Steph, the tendencies of Klay, and then ultimately, you know, K at the time.
Absolutely.
And then even you, because we did a lot of similar things, but you know, it was me trying to find my way into a well-oiled machine, but also continue to let it run properly. So it was a lot of difficult, you know, times where I, you know, sometimes I felt out of place, you know, the rhythm was off, you know, trying to figure out my own personal game within the offense. So it was a lot of things against me. And then on top of that, just having confidence in my movements, like, you know, doing things that I was used to doing, but, you know, my mind is telling me like, yeah, you can still do it, but my body not on the same page. So it was very difficult, but I had a, you know, credit to you guys. And I had a really good group around me. You guys, you know, really embraced me. You guys worked with me. You allowed me to, you know, you know, find my way within it. And, you know, eventually we had a, we had, it was rolling. Like, I mean, it was rolling, bro. So, you know, we kind of finally found our rhythm, you know, everybody, you know, figured out their place within the team and, you know, and everybody was finding success at the same time. And you didn't, you know, obviously we ran into another injury. So, but like I said, credit to you guys because y'all really made that, you know, that situation work for me. Yeah.
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