Considering his great 2018 season campaign, it appears Kevon Looney may end up being a Golden State Warriors for the long haul.
The Golden State Warriors cruised to a Game 1 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans in large part due to their outstanding defense. The Pelicans’ number one option was Anthony Davis and the Warriors did a great job sending multiple bodies and disrupting his rhythm.
Coming into the series, it was thought that Draymond Green would be the Warriors’ best defensive option on Davis due to his prior success. Green’s low center of gravity and physical play has always bothered Davis. Green employed these same tactics but Davis adapted by facing up and beating him backdoor for lob dunks. As a result, he got off to a hot start in the first quarter, scoring ten in the quarter.
Green did a fine job against Davis the rest of the game but the player who excelled against Davis the most was Kevon Looney. Looney’s stat line did not stand out to the average fan. He made his only shot and contributed just three points. But for the avid fan, they look at the six rebounds (four offensive), three assists, and an eye-popping +34, tops on the team.
At halftime, TNT analyst, Kenny Smith, commented on Looney’s plus-minus of +31. Smith was impressed with Looney’s play, but fellow analysts Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley scoffed at Looney’s play, focusing on the box score rather than his impact on the game.
What the box score does not point out is his matchup with Davis. Looney played Davis extremely well, limiting him to 2 of 9 from the field. This was by far the Warriors’ best defensive option against Davis. Their previous number one option, Green, allowed Davis to shoot 5 of 8 from the field.
Looney did a great job contesting Davis’s shot, one of his strong suits. Although he is only 6’9”, Looney has a wingspan of 7’4”, giving him the ability to bother bigger centers. Looney also used his strength to bump Davis off the block like Green does on a consistent basis.
When Looney was not guarding Davis, he did an excellent job switching onto smalls, using his lateral mobility. In the biggest play of the game, according to Kevin Durant, Looney switched off of Davis and blocked a Rajon Rondo layup. This led to a Quinn Cook layup, transforming Oracle into Roaracle instantly.
Kevin Durant said Kevon Looney’s block of Rajon Rondo was turning point leading to #Warriors big run. pic.twitter.com/3nsuyzWqUW
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) April 29, 2018
Coming into this season, Looney was an afterthought. He showed no consistency at both ends of the floor and was injury-plagued. But this was a different Looney. This Looney lost 30 pounds in the offseason and looked considerably quicker than in previous years. Looney made the team but he did not convince the organization that he was a part of their future. They declined his 4th-year option, making him a free agent at the end of this season.
The Warriors may regret this decision because Looney has transformed himself from the last guy off the bench to a key contributor. Looney is averaging more minutes than any center on the team during the postseason with the exception of Green. This is remarkable for a player that was fourth on the depth chart early in the season.
He was behind veterans Zaza Pachulia, David West, and rookie Jordan Bell but Coach Steve Kerr liked and trusted Looney. Kerr trusts him because he rarely makes mistakes. He never goes for pump fakes, moves his feet well on defense and sets great screens.
Papa on Kevon Looney: "He's becoming Draymond Jr." pic.twitter.com/EVxqR5Bkfh
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) April 20, 2018
He added a mid-range jumper and the occasional three-pointer. Looney has also shown an ability to pass out of the paint and find open shooters, an essential Warriors’ skill. Looney has his weaknesses including not being able to create his own shot and struggling in the post against stronger players.
With all that, Looney has turned himself into a solid player, employing much of the same skills as Green. 95.7 The Game Radio Host Greg Papa has even called Looney, Draymond Junior. If Looney is Draymond Junior, the Warriors need to re-sign him especially with the uncertainty at the center position.
Pachulia, West, and McGee are all free agents but Looney may be their best option. Looney is only 22 and watching him develop even more for another team would devastating to the Warriors’ fan base.
Next: Takeaways from Game 1 win vs. Pelicans
If his play against Davis is any indication of future play, the Warriors would be fools not to re-sign him. Looney is essential to the Warriors’ present and future. Let’s hope they make the right decision.