DeMarcus Cousins has viral meningitis, according to reports. (USATSI)
The last time we saw DeMarcus Cousins on a basketball court was back on November 26 in a 13-point loss to the Houston Rockets. The Sacramento Kings' center has missed five straight games with a viral infection and he'll reportedly miss even more time with this illness. Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today are reporting that Cousins has been diagnosed with viral meningitis and is slowly recovering.
Viral meningitis is an inflammation of the tissue that covers the spinal cord and the brain. The Center for Disease Control says there isn't a specific treatment for viral meningitis but some antiviral medication can be a benefit to patients. The full recovery time is seven to 10 days, which is the minimum for when Cousins is expected to return.
Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins has missed the past five games with a case of viral meningitis and continues to recover slowly, according to multiple people with knowledge of the situation.
The people spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because the team had not detailed the initial diagnosis.
But while the possibility was left open that he could return on Monday against the Utah Jazz, it's now more likely that he would attempt to resume basketball activities later in the week is expected to miss at least another seven to 10 days.
Cousins has been one of the best players in the NBA this season, averaging 23.5 points and 12.6 rebounds (leading the NBA). The Kings are 9-6 in the 15 games Cousins has played this season and are just 1-4 since he went down with the viral infection. The Kings got an overtime win against the Pacers on Friday, which gave Sacramento its first win without Cousins since March 13, 2013.
They had lost 15 straight games without Cousins before the win over the Pacers.
Basketball Hot News
Warriors’ co-owner apologizes for comments about Mark Jackson
Warriors’ co-owner Joe Lacob should feel good about the Steve Kerr hire so far. It’s still the honeymoon phase but he has the Warriors on a 12-game winning streak and playing the best defense in the NBA this young season.
But in praising Kerr Wednesday night Lacob took some unnecessary shots at former coach Mark Jackson, saying “he couldn’t get along with anybody else in the organization” and saying that Lacob opened his checkbook and wanted Jackson to bring in better assistant coaches but instead he just brought in his guys.
Lacob has now apologized for those comments, reports Diamond Leung of the Bay Area News Group.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Mark Jackson and what he accomplished as our head coach,” Lacob said. “He did a terrific job. I’ve said that many times over the last several months and in recent days, including at this week’s event. I was asked to draw comparisons earlier this week between building businesses in the tech world and the sports world, and unfortunately, I used some poor judgment. That’s my mistake. I did attempt to reach out to Mark on Friday, and I certainly apologize for comments and any unintended harm. I know that Mark will succeed again in this business.”
Lacob should have apologized. There was no reason to take public shots at Jackson to contrast him with Kerr.
Jackson won 51 games as the Warriors coach last season and he was loved in their locker room — the players were angry he was fired.
They were also professional enough to move past it. And in return Kerr is running smarter sets, getting guys in better positions to play to their strengths, and generally doing a spectacular job raising up a good team to great (something he should have learned in his playing days under Gregg Popovich and Phil Jackson).
It’s early, but it looks like Lacob and company made the right call. That doesn’t mean you take a shot at Jackson.
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