At the top of the active players who have spent the most time on the same NBA team, we find Stephen Curry (16th season coming) and Draymond Green (13). Not far behind them and Giannis Antetokounmpo (12), we find in particular a 3rd player from the Warriors: Kevin Looney.
The Californian pivot is preparing to start a 10th season with Golden State which promises to be different from the others in more than one way. The 28-year-old is coming off a special final exercise, where he saw his status as a starting pivot come into question, due to the push from Trayce Jackson-Davis.
As a result of his short season, marked by a statistical decline, he admitted to having some doubts about his future at the Warriors. Notably last June, when only 3 million, out of a total of 8 million dollars, were guaranteed on his contract.
More mobile
“ Until you get that guarantee, you never really know what it's all about. I've been in this situation before where things didn't go the way I wanted. I was pretty optimistic about being here; I'm happy to still be here. The year is still long, you never know. In the NBA, things can change very, very quickly “, he recalls at NBC Sports Arena.
So to avoid further cold sweats, and as he enters his last year of contract, Kevon Looney has taken the lead. One of his goals was to lose weight, to gain mobility in attack and defense. As researched, he has already lost between 5 and 7 kilos by paying more attention to his caloric intake.
Result, a source cited by the local media describes it as being “ in phenomenal form “. “ I feel lighter, much lighter, on my feet, I feel like I can move better. […] I feel like I have a little more stamina. I will always be in the post and I will have to defend on the strong ones, so I have to maintain this strength and improve my weaknesses », he analyzes.
Outdoor shooter remains relevant
He thinks he has found the right balance on a physical level. Will he also find it in the game? In mid-June, he had already shown his desire to work on his outside shot. Up to the 3-point line behind he hopes to be able to shoot at 35% success initially, then 40% eventually. We should therefore see him less hesitant when he is open.
Enough to convince Steve Kerr, whose unconditional support he claims to have, to put him back in his five? For now, only Curry and Green are guaranteed to be there. The three men, now without Klay Thompson, have already been through a lot together in ten years, and it may not be over.
“ To be able to say that I played for 10 years […] with just one team, being able to contribute to winning basketball, being part of a team that has won multiple titles and having an impact on a community like this and such a storied franchise has been great for Me. Nothing is guaranteed in basketball. You can be in the league today and gone tomorrow “, he philosophizes.
Photo X UCLA
| 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 | 74 | 16 | 59.7 | 0.0 | 67.5 | 1.9 | 3.7 | 5.7 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 4.5 |
| Total | 523 | 18 | 58.3 | 16.7 | 61.5 | 2.1 | 3.5 | 5.6 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 5.0 | |
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.
