When the Golden State Warriors open their campaign for the 2025-26 season, a familiar face will no longer be seen on the court, one who the coaches, players and fans respected and loved for the yeoman’s job he did with the team.
That player is Kevon Looney, the undersized yet highly dependable big man who spent the first decade of his NBA career playing for the Warriors. And while most of the spotlight always went to the likes of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green, Loon did his best work in the background, providing solid minutes off the bench and making key contributions whenever called upon.
But as they say, all good things must come to an end. And for Looney, his time with the Warriors reached its conclusion this past offseason when he signed a multi-year deal to play for the New Orleans Pelicans.
According to Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr, he expects there will be many moments this season when he looks to Looney’s spot in the locker room and is saddened to see he’s no longer there.
A solid player and an even better person
Looney joined the Warriors when he was 19, having been selected 30th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. Although he was limited to only five games in his rookie season due to hip surgery, he didn’t let that get his spirits down and he soon earned the respect of his coach and superstar teammates.
Over the next few seasons, Looney became a key rotation player for the Warriors, providing valuable minutes, whether as a starter or a reserve, and often stepping up in big moments. Despite being only 6’9″, he played with the heart of a lion, relying on exceptional positioning skills to snag crucial rebounds and score around the paint.
In fact, one of his most memorable performances occurred during the Warriors’ remarkable title run in 2022. Despite playing at a disadvantage against Steven Adams and Jaren Jackson Jr., Looney put up four points, five assists and a whopping 22 rebounds to help the Warriors win, 110-96, and close out the Memphis Grizzlies.
“You guys know my love for Loon — on and off the court. We’re going to miss his screening, we’re going to miss his offensive rebounding, we’re going to miss just how solid he is every day,” Kerr shared during his appearance on “The TK Show.”
A valuable locker room presence
While Looney put up respectable numbers of 5.0 points and 5.7 rebounds in 599 games for the Warriors, his most crucial contributions to the team cannot be quantified on a stat sheet. He had been a valuable locker room presence, known for his positive attitude and utmost professionalism.
“The locker room leadership,” Kerr gushed. “You know, Ron Adams told me the other day, he said, ‘Loon might have been the best leader I’ve ever seen in my life.’ And yep, I agree with that.”
With Looney looking to help the Pelicans take the next step in the Western Conference, Kerr divulged that he hopes that the addition of veteran champion Al Horford will mitigate the loss.
“I think Al will be able to give us some of that same kind of quiet leadership and mentoring in the locker room,” Kerr exclaimed.
Looney’s name was never found on any marquee, nor was he ever a headliner during his 10-year stint on the Warriors. Yet, when all is said and done and this Warriors’ run is over, he will always be remembered as a vital piece to the very fabric of the dynasty that they built.
Related: LeBron James fooled the entire NBA world with a fake “Decision 2.0” retirement tease