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Golden State Warriors: Challenges keep coming for the unflappable Kevon Looney

By Peter O'Keefe

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 20: Kevon Looney #5 of the Golden State Warriors and Domantas Sabonis #10 of the Sacramento Kings go for a rebound during Game Three of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Chase Center on April 20, 2023 in San Francisco, California. 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 20: Kevon Looney #5 of the Golden State Warriors and Domantas Sabonis #10 of the Sacramento Kings go for a rebound during Game Three of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Chase Center on April 20, 2023 in San Francisco, California. 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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If Stephen Curry wasn’t a one-man band against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, it’s only because Kevon Looney produced another monstrous rebounding performance as the Golden State Warriors secured their passage through to the second-round of the NBA Playoffs.

In what proved a series-defining matchup, Looney completed his mission against Kings’ All-Star center Domantas Sabonis, recording his third 20+ rebound performance of the series in Game 7. It included ten massive offensive boards as the Warriors eventually wore down their younger opponents in the second-half.

Kevon Looney outplayed Domantas Sabonis in the Golden State Warriors’ first-round series, but a bigger challenge awaits in the form of Anthony Davis.

While many fans marvelled at and were surprised with Looney’s performance against Sabonis and the Kings, the 27-year-old seems to handle it with a sense of nonchalance — that it’s simply what’s expected of him.

Looney isn’t widely-recognized as one of the league’s best centers — many Sacramento fans and analysts scoffed at the idea of him being a match for Sabonis pre-series. They’re not alone either — he may be playing elsewhere had a team offered him $10-12+ million dollars per year in free agency last offseason. Instead, the Warriors brought him back on a three-year, $22.5 million contract. Peanuts.

With Looney having averaged over 15 boards against the league’s rebounding leader during the regular season, Golden State head coach Steve Kerr was quick to heap praise on his big man in the aftermath of the Game 7 victory.

"“I thought he controlled much of the game with his offensive boards. I think Loon is one of the best centers in the league. People don’t recognize it because he’s not dunking and shooting threes…but this guy is a flat out winner and he’s a machine. We wouldn’t be here without him”, Kerr said."

While many have fretted over the Warriors’ lack of size and center options after trading James Wiseman mid-season, Looney has never once complained and appears to take the challenge all in his stride.

Having conquered Sabonis, it doesn’t get any easier with a matchup against Lakers’ star Anthony Davis. It may not be the same one-on-one battle — Draymond Green will have his turn on Davis and the Warriors may feel comfortable having Looney on Jarred Vanderbilt at times — but it still presents as an intriguing facet of what’s bound to be a hard-fought series.

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Who’s to say Looney won’t be up to the challenge of one of those most skilled big men in the league? Afterall, he’s taken all before him over the last 18 months. In a league where big men often get played off the floor during critical moments in the postseason, Looney’s versatility continues to stand up against all types of opposition.

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