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The 3 most underpaid Golden State Warriors for next season

By Peter O'Keefe

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 02: (L to R) Kevon Looney #5, Klay Thompson #11, Andrew Wiggins #22, Jordan Poole #3, and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors look on from the bench during the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics in Game One of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center on June 02, 2022 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 - JUNE 02: (L to R) Kevon Looney #5, Klay Thompson #11, Andrew Wiggins #22, Jordan Poole #3, and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors look on from the bench during the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics in Game One of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center on June 02, 2022 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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Golden State Warriors
Kevon Looney is one of the league’s most underpaid players. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

Kevon Looney – $7.5 million

When the Warriors signed Kevon Looney to a three-year, $22.5 million contract last offseason, most around the league considered it a team-friendly deal. Fast-forward another 12 months and that perspective has only strengthened.

According to Spotrac, Looney is the 195th highest paid player in the league next season, and the 32nd among centers. Not bad for a starting calibre center who unlike so many, actually increases his value come playoff time.

The 27-year-old completely outplayed Domantas Sabonis in the Warriors’ first-round series win over the Sacramento Kings. After leading the league in rebounding during the regular season, Sabonis was monstered by Looney on the glass, and rendered much less effective offensively, in a series-defining matchup that saw Golden State take a 4-3 victory.

Last season saw Looney average career-highs in minutes (23.9), points (7.0), rebounds (9.3), assists (2.5), steals (0.6) and field-goal percentage (63%). He also led the league in total offensive rebounds last season with 274 in total.

Furthermore, after injuries plagued the early part of his career, Looney has become an ironman in playing all of the Warriors’ regular season and playoff games over the last two seasons. That’s an underrated aspect in determining the worth of a player, particularly given Golden State’s lack of center depth behind Looney over the same time period.

Perhaps Looney is worth more to the Warriors than other teams given his skillset as a tenacious rebounder and screensetter, but it’s difficult to envisage him not getting between $12-$15 million per season if he was a free agent this offseason.

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