For three matches, Kevin Looney spends his time on the bench. He has just compiled three “DNPs” (Did Not Play) in a row. For him this is unprecedented for almost three years since his last missed match was on March 20, 2021. A different era, with the NBA's Covid protocol which kept almost all the players away over the months.
Since this date, the Warriors pivot had finished the 2020/21 season (29 matches), before continuing with two seasons in a row with 82 matches, then playing the first 61 of this 2023/24 financial year. The calculation is simple: 254 matches played in a row, no one was doing better except Mikal Bridges, the league's true “Iron Man”.
Matches played on one leg
When you've played three years in a row and you're stuck on the bench, even though you're not injured, it's obviously difficult to swallow… “It’s always a little present,” he confides about his disappointment. “I was available, I wasn’t injured. JTouch wood, I always take care of my body, I feel good. I'm ready if called. »
It must be said that the Golden State player has come a long way. Having undergone surgery on both hips during his first two seasons, he had to find his place in the great team of Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, which dominated the league, and had a number of pivots: JaVale McGee, Zaza Pachulia, Damian Jones, Jordan Bell. Finally, he made his mark, going on to play more than 250 matches in a row.
“People doubted I could play again. So to do such a series of matches in a row was important for me. I was proud to be tough, to be there every night, to be available every time”.
Sometimes we had to grit our teeth to keep this series alive. “I played a few matches on one leg,” he remembers during the 2021/22 season. “Rick Celebrini, from the medical staff, was sometimes skeptical. But I was there. There are probably six or seven matches that I should not have played. »
“Everyone makes sacrifices, so you have to make them. Even if I don't play, I still have a role in the team.”
This season, before experiencing this sequence on the bench, he had already joined it since the end of January, only starting 36 times, out of 61 matches. We know that Steve Kerr has developed his group, with Draymond Green as the pivot and Jonathan Kuminga at his side.
“We have so much talent on this team, so many combinations. The coach has found a formula that works. We must continue with it,” notes the three-time NBA champion. “Everyone makes sacrifices, so you have to make them. Even if I don't play, I still have a role in the team, as a leader, to make sure the kids are good. And as soon as my name is called, I have to make sure I perform. »
The one who benefits from the minutes left by Kevon Looney is Trayce Jackson-Davis, who has just produced a big poster on Victor Wembanyama, and the pivot is the first to highlight his performances.
“I’m happy for him, he’s playing well. He's a good guy. He listens. He brought a spark to this group and it’s happening on this team. I have known formations where there were four pivots, or three, or two, or even none. The guys with me have always been good. I have to continue on this path and be good to him. »
| Kevin Looney | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2015-16 | GOS | 5 | 4 | 57.1 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 1.8 |
| 2016-17 | GOS | 53 | 8 | 52.3 | 22.2 | 61.8 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 2.6 |
| 2017-18 | GOS | 66 | 14 | 58.0 | 20.0 | 54.5 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 3.3 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 4.1 |
| 2018-19 | GOS | 80 | 19 | 62.5 | 10.0 | 61.9 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 5.2 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 6.3 |
| 2019-20 | GOS | 20 | 13 | 36.7 | 7.1 | 75.0 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 3.4 |
| 2020-21 | GOS | 61 | 19 | 54.8 | 23.5 | 64.6 | 1.9 | 3.4 | 5.3 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 4.1 |
| 2021-22 | GOS | 82 | 21 | 57.1 | 0.0 | 60.0 | 2.5 | 4.7 | 7.3 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 6.0 |
| 2022-23 | GOS | 82 | 24 | 63.0 | 0.0 | 60.6 | 3.3 | 5.9 | 9.3 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 7.1 |
| 2023-24 | GOS | 61 | 17 | 59.5 | 0.0 | 67.6 | 2.1 | 3.9 | 5.9 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 4.6 |
| Total | 510 | 18 | 58.3 | 16.7 | 61.4 | 2.1 | 3.5 | 5.6 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 5.1 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
