Kevon Looney was an integral part of the Golden State Warriors dynasty that clinched three championships in a six year timeline.
He contributed with key performances off the bench, but also stepped in as a starter when called upon.
However, after a ten-year stint with the Golden State Warriors, Kevon Looney finally left the team in free agency and joined the New Orleans Pelicans.
Looney had a wonderful time with the Dubs and shared the court with Hall of Famers, including Kevin Durant.
The former MVP was a key part of the team that won the championship for the Warriors in 2017, but Looney believes success was inevitable with or without the Slim Reaper.
Photo by MediaNews Group/Bay Area News via Getty ImagesLooney thinks Warriors could have won without Durant in 2017
Durant moved to the Warriors in free agency after spending nine years with the OKC Thunder.
In his very first year, KD helped the Dubs win the championship and was awarded the Finals MVP for his performance against the Cleveland Cavaliers there.
He averaged 35.2 PPG, 8.4 RPG and 5.4 APG, all while shooting over 50% from the field.
Steph Curry also was stellar in the series, but KD completely dominated the Cavs to take home the Finals MVP honors.
Despite his sheer dominance, Looney feels the Warriors could have done it even without KD.
Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
When asked on the Warriors Plus Minus podcast if the team could do it without KD in 2017, Looney said: “Yeah. I think so.”
The three-time champion revealed the team would have to add something to substitute KD’s impact.
“We would have to add something. I don’t know what it would be. It would have to be something around the edges, but I still think so.
“I don’t know if we can win three, like that but I think we can get one more,” said Looney.
The Dubs were dominant throughout the 2017 playoff run and won the championship by beating the Cavs 4-1 in the Finals.
KD played a key role in that run and Looney stated it would be a much more difficult run without him, but the Dubs would somehow win the championship.
He added: “Not having KD it probably would have went seven but I think we would have won.
“I don’t think people would be talking about us like we unstoppable, it wouldn’t have been the same conversation but I think we would have won one.”
2017 Golden State Warriors team were special
After losing to the Cavaliers in 2016, the Warriors knew that they needed something special the following season to beat their rivals.
This is why they went on to add Kevin Durant to their roster, who instantly made them one of the most difficult sides to beat.
One year ago today, Golden State won the 2017 NBA Championship. The Warriors finished the 2017 NBA Playoffs with a 16-1 (.941) mark, surpassing the L.A. Lakers’ 15-1 (.938) record in the 2001 NBA Playoffs for the best single-season winning percentage in NBA postseason history. pic.twitter.com/rgJBBgI9Fk
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) June 13, 2018
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The Warriors dominated the Western Conference with 67 wins in the regular season that year. They also swept all their opponents on their way to the Finals, which is another spectacular feat to achieve.
Once again waiting for them in the Finals were the Cavaliers, but this time the Dubs had KD.
He scored the most points in all five games of the Finals and brought the championship back to the Bay Area.