Get your Kleenex because it’s about to get emotional.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr sent a message to Kevon Looney via the team’s ‘X’ account, expressing his gratitude to the big man after the center’s signing with the New Orleans Pelicans became official.
“Just want to say thank you,” Kerr started as he stood in front of greenery recording his farewell message to Looney. “This is a tough one. Ten years, it’s just been an amazing experience for me to coach you.
“Just your professionalism, your dignity, your class, the way you handled yourself, the way you mentor your young teammates and, of course, the championship contributions you made year after year.”
Looney spent 10 seasons with Golden State, playing in 599 regular-season games and 89 postseason contests with the team that selected him No. 30 overall in the 2015 NBA Draft.
The 29-year-old’s NBA career didn’t begin as planned, however, as he was limited to just five games his rookie season due to having surgery on both hips.
However, Looney made sure to change his narrative. He was able to play all 82 games for the 2021-22 season which earned him the nickname “Iron Man Loon.” He’d go on to play over 200 consecutive regular-season games for the team.
The former UCLA Bruin was a key cog with the Warriors in that 2021-22 season, playing more than 21 minutes per game and averaging over six points and seven rebounds per game, as they marched to their fourth NBA championship of the decade – Looney’s third as a member of the team.
“We can’t thank you enough, I can’t thank you enough,” Kerr added. “Thrilled for you for your opportunity in New Orleans but, wow, we are gonna miss you. So thank you for everything you have done for me, for our staff for The Bay. You are the absolute best, Loon.”
“LOON” definitely will be missed in the Bay Area.
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