The forecast is cloudy for former Wildcat DeMarcus Cousins

DeMarcus Cousins suffered a season-ending ruptured Achilles injury last Friday versus the Houston Rockets. Unfortunately for the former UK big man, his road to recovery is bumpy at best.

Former Kentucky Wildcat DeMarcus Cousins suffered a season-ending injury last Friday in the final seconds of a New Orleans victory over the Houston Rockets. Cousins tore his left Achilles tendon and will miss the remainder of what was his best season statistically. Cousins faces a steep, uphill recovery and an uncertain future in the NBA.

DeMarcus Cousins was having an MVP-caliber season for the New Orleans Pelicans. Boogie was averaging 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists through 48 games on the season. The rebounds and assists are both career-highs. The Pelicans were, and possibly still are, contenders for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. If the Pelicans would’ve continued to play at the same level they are now, Cousins would have gotten his first taste of the NBA postseason.

But it was not to be and now Cousins faces a difficult recovery from perhaps one of sports’ worst injuries. One of the latest high-profile NBA stars to undergo surgery for a torn Achilles tendon was Cousins’ former teammate and current San Antonio Spur, Rudy Gay. Gay suffered the injury just over a year ago while playing for the Sacramento Kings. So far this season, Gay has played in 34 games this season and is averaging 11 points per game. That’s his lowest scoring output since his rookie season in 2006-07.

Where will Boogie be in 2018?

Cousins will be a free agent this off-season and there’s no telling what kind of a monkey wrench this injury throwing into the situation going forward for Boogie. He was traded last season from Sacramento to New Orleans and really seemed to form a close bond with former Wildcat and perennial All-Star Anthony Davis. It’s anyone’s guess now where Cousins will end up in the off-season.

There’s still a strong possibility that the Pelicans bring Cousins back, but will he still receive a max contract? Will teams like the Los Lakers still pursue Cousins in free agency? Will he even be on the court next season? All these questions will be answered with time, for now Big Blue Nation can cheer on Cousins’ teammates and former Wildcats Davis, Darius Miller and Rajon Rondo.