After feeling betrayed by his longtime team, the veteran center is embracing a new chapter
Image Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
Kevon Looney’s decade-long journey with the Golden State Warriors officially ended this summer as his contract reached its conclusion. The defender has taken potshots against his former franchise, accusing them of undermining his talents.
Looney who signed a $22.5 Million two year deal in 2022 saw his contract come to an end this offseason. The Warriors were interested in keeping the center, but his wage demands didn’t match with the Golden State’s front office.
The 29-year-old was selected in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft and was once seen as a long-term defensive piece for Golden State. Despite staying with the Warriors for a decade, Looney never truly evolved into more than a reliable rotation piece within the franchise’s championship systems.
Quentin Post who was a second round pick from the 2024 NBA Draft has had a more concrete role than Looney. However, despite that, the defender has felt that he deserved more respect from the Warriors. Kevon Looney was consistently benched during the 2024–25 playoffs. And that didn’t go down well with him.
Kevon Looney said, “It was anybody but me it seemed like at this point. We’re going up against Steven Adams. This is what I do. They’re not really giving me the chance to really let me do what I do. It’s like, ‘All right, y’all don’t trust me? I thought y’all trusted me.”
Averaging just 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 points per game in the 2025 playoffs, the UCLA product struggled to impact the court like he once did. This is a significant drop considering his 2023 NBA Playoffs where he averaged 13.1 points per game. The stats above suggest Kevon Looney was not in the rhythm to start ahead of Quentin Post.
Jordan Poole, Looney reunite in New Orleans
Kevon Looney signed for the New Orleans Pelicans after running down his contract. He agreed to a $16 million two-year deal. This will allow him to earn $8 million annually, which is $500,000 more from his previous contract with the Warriors.
Looney will also reunite with his former teammate Jordan Poole, with both players now landing in the same Western Conference outfit. The forward moved to New Orleans from the Washington Wizards this offseason. Kevon Looney and Jordan Poole share a close bond from their time in the Bay Area, and also won the 2022 ring together.
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I cover NBA at the Playoffs. I specialize in covering breaking news, Previews, in in-depth analysis (breaking down numbers, complex stats, nuances of the game, and converting them into reader-friendly content). Furthermore, I got into the sports media while looking for an entry into the media industry. I love International Relations, and since entry without majoring in the subject was difficult, I got into sports. Now, while majoring in International Relations on one side, I also like covering sports as part of the journey as a young Journalist.
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