Cousins excited for Warriors debut; set to play for most 'hated team in sports'

There's a lot of hoopla over a player in the NBA that hasn't played in a game this season, but for former All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins, he's all about looking ahead as he gets to make his debut for the Golden State Warriors.

Cousins, who has not played since late January of 2018 after being sidelined by an Achilles injury while with the Pelicans, is set to finally get on the court Friday as Golden State takes on the Los Angeles Clippers.

The big man spoke recently to ESPN's Rachel Nichols, and admitted that he's joining what many think is the most hated team in sports, a team that has won a couple titles albeit after signing one of the game's best two years back in Kevin Durant.

Now they've added another All-Star, a player who some think will again put Golden State right back at the top hoisting another NBA title in June.

"I mean, they're gonna say what they have to say. They're gonna add their opinions. We're the most hated team in sports," Cousins told ESPN.

Durant's going from OKC to the Warriors is what many point to as to what put Golden State over the top, as the season before they lost a three games to one series lead in the NBA Finals to Cleveland, but since then have been basically unbeatable.

"You know they hate Kevin [Durant]. They hate me," Cousins said.

"I think the only guy they really like is Stephen [Curry]. Actually, they may hate him, as well. They hate Draymond Green. But I mean, it is what it is. I can't worry about that."

Cousins could have returned on Wednesday night against his old team in New Orleans, but decided that it would create too much of a media firestorm, so instead decided a better return would be Friday against the Clippers.

“No, I wasn’t going to return against them,” Cousins told Yahoo Sports before the Warriors’ win over the Pelicans.

“I didn’t because I didn’t’ want to give [the media] a storyline. Straight up. You can ask [general manager] Bob [Myers] that. I didn’t want to give y’all a storyline. That’s why [my return] is Friday.”

The 28-year-old clearly won't be 100 percent the moment he hits the court, but if he can stay healthy he'll be an asset to the team that already at 31-14 is the top in the Western Conference.

Cousins doesn't seem worried about the fans, the media, or anything else for that matter as he gets set to make his return to the court, excited about finally being able to get back to doing what he loves.

"I’m going to come out and play with joy. I’m going to be happy to be on the floor just playing the game," Cousins told Yahoo Sports.

"I’m going to help this team in whatever way I can. I’m going to be a physical force on the boards. I’m going to do what I do. I’m going to do it to the best of my ability."