Team USA Roster 2014: DeMarcus Cousins Injures Right Knee During Practice
Sacramento Kings' DeMarcus Cousins injured his right knee during a Team USA practice on Thursday at the Quest MultiSport Complex in Chicago.
"USA Basketball National Team member DeMarcus Cousins suffered a knee-to-knee collision with a teammate during Thursday's USA practice in Chicago. According to USA Basketball team physician Dr. Lisa Callahan (Hospital for Special Surgery/New York Knicks), an MRI was done and revealed no structural damage. Cousins is listed as day-to-day," read the team's statement in an ESPN report.
The Sacramento Kings player "got tangled with Anthony Davis when both big men hit the floor during a scrimmage toward the end of practice," ESPN added.
"I feel bad. I hope he's fine because he really wants to be here. We were both just hustling and I dove on his leg. So I hope he's fine," Davis told USA Today. The report added that Cousins placed weight on his right leg when he fell.
Because of his injury, team USA director, Jerry Colangelo, told ESPN that Cousins won't be participating in the team's exhibition game vs Brazil on Saturday .
"I can't believe he would. Even if he's 100 percent OK, he's going to have to rest a little bit and get treatment," Colangelo told USA Today.
It seems Cousins injury isn't so bad. He updated his fans about his condition on his Twitter page. He posted, "Thanks for all the concern, I'm fine."
Cousins injury came after Paul George's leg break which also happened during a team practice in Las Vegas a week ago, USA Today noted.
ESPN recalled how the team had to go through a few rough weeks after George's injury. Oklahoma City Thunder Kevin Durant withdrew from the team due to "physical and mental fatigue." This was then followed by a few more withdrawals from All-Star players, Kevin Love, Blake Griffin, La Marcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard.
Team USA has 15 finalists left in its roster. It is scheduled to select its final 12 before the team heads to Spain for the World Cup of Basketball which is expected to start on August 30. The FIBA World Cup, according to ESPN, will feature 24 national teams from all around the world.