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Golden State Warriors: Is Kevon Looney a Sixth Man of the Year contender?

By Christian Evans

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 19: Kevon Looney #5 of the Golden State Warriors controls the ball in a NBA game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 19, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 19: Kevon Looney #5 of the Golden State Warriors controls the ball in a NBA game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 19, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /
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Fans rejoiced when it was announced Kevon Looney was to remain on the Golden State Warriors on a bargain 3-year, $15 million contract.

The former UCLA Bruin played 2018-19 on a minimum contract and was expected to receive a large payday after a breakout season but was relatively underpaid as one of the Golden State Warriors most trusted performers returns to the Bay.

Looney started to show signs of becoming a do it all power forward/center, adding an element of the mid-range to his game.

The third-year star averaged career highs in points, rebounds and assists averaging 6.3, 5.2 and 1.5 respectively. Looney turned out to be one of Steve Kerr’s most reliable contributors throughout last season.

With the departures of Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston, the Dubs are now without a leader for their second unit.

A leadership role which Looney could fulfill. After all, he certainly has Steve Kerr’s trust with the Warriors head coach defining Looney as a “foundational piece”.

"Looney has also massively impressed his teammates with his play. Former Dub Andre Iguodala was glowing in his reference of Looney last season. Describing Looney as “one of the smarter players in this league, especially for his age.” Before adding his astonishment to the San Francisco chronicle’s Connor Letourneau that Looney actually returned to the Warriors in 2018-19. “I was really surprised that he came back, actually. It just shows you there aren’t too many smart scouts out there.”"

Looney has gone from strength to strength in his short yet successful career thus far and has started to display signs of an improving three-point shot and will be asked to do more offensively with Klay Thompson expected to miss an extended spell.

Coach Kerr certainly believes the former UCLA Bruin will be invaluable in 2019-20 and stated the Dubs would have been in “big trouble” had Looney left

Despite having only entered the league in 2015, Looney is one of the longest-tenured Warriors on the roster currently and will likely step into Iguodala’s old role. So that leaves the question is he a potential sixth man of the year?

The competition in that area is quite strong with Lou Williams, Eric Gordon and Fred VanVleet to name a few are all strong sixth men on their respective teams. But I’d definitely not rule Looney out especially if the Warriors surprise a few teams this year.

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In all likelihood, Looney’s usage will increase and will become one of the primary weapons on the Warriors while his defense is already a blossoming aspect of his game and if he can expand his skillset a bit further, Looney could well be the sixth man of the year in 2019-20.

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