Kevon Looney departed the Golden State Warriors after 10 years to sign with the New Orleans Pelicans.
After 10 years with the Golden State Warriors, Kevon Looney’s stint with the team came to an end in free agency.
Kevon Looney signed with the New Orleans Pelicans, where he will add a veteran presence to help young prospects Yves Missi and Derik Queen.
The 29-year-old signed a two-year $16 million contract, more than he was offered by the Warriors, and he made the decision to move on.
Looney penned an emotional farewell message to the Warriors, showing his deep respect after his involvement in three title-wins.
But there was an element of sourness in Looney’s exit.
Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty ImagesKevon Looney on leaving the Warriors
Kevon Looney spoke to the Warriors Plus Minus podcast about his exit from Golden State and his feelings beforehand.
Looney said that he expected the Warriors to low-ball him with an offer, with the team yet to make a single free agency signing so far.
And his feelings of negativity had built up during the playoffs, where he averaged just 9.3 minutes per game against the Rockets, and 11.0 minutes per game in the series loss to the Timberwolves.
Asked a leading question about how he felt seeing second round rookie Quinten Post being preferred to him, Looney did not dismiss feeling frustrated.
He said: “Quinten’s my guy but it’s anyone but me it seemed like.”
Looney felt he was not trusted
Kevon Looney said he was left feeling through the playoffs that he was no longer a key part of the Warriors plans.
He explained: “There was no one moment. In the playoffs I didn’t get the chance to do what I do, ‘alright you don’t trust me’.”
He added: “They put me in at the end of Game 7 [vs Houston]. Alright. You don’t think I’m that good no more.
“You get sick of that at some point. You either trust me or you don’t.”
Looney added that he has no personal problem with long-time coach Steve Kerr, and knows his decisions are not personal.
He clarified: “It’s never personal with Steve. He does what he thinks is trying to win.”
Kerr said during the series against the Rockets that he trusted Looney, but the center was clearly not convinced by his actions.
If the money was right he likely would have returned, but without it, the negative feelings Looney had during the playoffs helped his case to finally leave the team after a decade.