The Golden State Warriors may not be as dominant as they were during their run to four championships, but they’re still hanging around.
Following their 137-116 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, the Warriors are currently 36-32 and in 10th place in the Western Conference — the final spot for the play-in tournament. They’re four games behind the sixth-seeded Sacramento Kings, which means they’ll likely have to win a play-in game just to make it into to the playoffs.
With that being said, they’re always a threat considering they still feature the nucleus — Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and head coach Steve Kerr — from their championship wins. Their overall record may not be great, but they’re 18-11 (62%) since Draymond Green returned from his 12-game suspension. Stretched over an entire season, the Warriors would currently be fifth in the Western Conference.
And while he may not be thought of often by mainstream fans, Kevon Looney has been around for most of that run.
The 28-year-old Looney — who has been a part of three of Golden State’s championships and arrived in 2015, shortly after the dynasty began — explained why the enigmatic Green is such a difference-maker for a Warriors team that has often been dominated in the headlines by the Splash Brothers’ high-profile three-point shooting.
“We definitely missed Draymond,” Looney admits during a one-on-one interview. “He’s a defensive guru. He’s a great passer. He’s one of our leaders. He plays with a lot of spirited energy that kind of fuels our team and when he wasn’t there, it was tough. And since he’s been back, I feel we’ve turned a corner and he’s been great in the locker room.”
Green was initially suspended indefinitely by the NBA for hitting Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic in the head back in December. However, that suspension didn’t last that long, as Green returned after 12 games in January. Just prior to his return, the Warriors were just 18-21 (.462) and had gone 10-11 in games Green missed in December and January.
Looney says he and the Warriors didn’t agree on the suspension handed down to Green.
“He’s been an even better leader,” Looney says of Green. “We all didn’t agree on the suspension. Since he’s been back, he’s been great. He was great before he left and got suspended. So it wasn’t like it was some drastic change that he needed to do. When he came back, he’s still our leader. He’s going to be important down the stretch. We have to have him on our side.”
Looney — who was speaking on behalf of his partnership with Invisalign, a brand well-known for their clear aligners for teeth and a sponsor of the NFL — detailed why he partnered with them. Looney began treatment in September and says it’s been an easy process.
“I always like to smile,” says Looney. “But everyone has some insecurities about their teeth and about their smile. I’m always on TV, I’m always out in public taking pictures. I just wanted to make sure my smile was perfect. I still want to keep my signature gap and Invisalign allowed me to do that.”
Looney also revealed how it’s boosted his confidence when it comes to showing off his smile.
“I’ve been feeling great about it,” says Looney.” Smile is getting better and I’m probably smiling more and I’m feeling more confident.”
While the Warriors aren’t accustomed to winning play-in tournament games to make it to the playoffs — they’ve done it once prior back in 2021 when they lost to the Lakers — they have shown new life on the defensive end. The Warriors have posted a defensive rating of 113.9 in games where Green plays — that would rank 13th in the NBA — compared to a dreadful 122.0 defensive rating without him, which would rank dead last in the league.
“These last 15 games, we want to just keep establishing identity, being a great defensive team, getting out in transition, playing fast and free,” says Looney. “When we’re doing that, we’re tough to beat. We have to make sure we get the highest seed possible and get into the playoffs.”
Looney admits that while the Warriors have been vulnerable this season, he’s optimistic that once they reach their ceiling, they can beat any team in this league. It’s worth noting they’re only two years removed from winning their last championship.
“We know we’re not the best team right now,” says Looney. “We’ve been very beatable. But we know if we reach our ceiling, we can beat anybody in this league.”
They’ve shown new life not just because of Green’s return to the court, but because of their new starting lineup, featuring the inclusion of Jonathan Kuminga and Brandon Podziemski. The move has actually led to Thompson coming off of the bench and Looney being relegated to a reserve role.
Looney — who had served as the team’s starting big man since the end of the 2020-21 season and had held the role through the end of January — spoke selflessly about accepting his decrease in playing time.
“It’s about winning here,” says Looney. “Whatever helps us to win. Whatever coach Kerr feels is gonna help our team, I’m willing to go for it. I’m willing to embrace it and try to be the best in my role. And if I’m rotated again and he needs me to go out there and play a lot of minutes, I’ll be ready for that. It’s not easy, but I still try to embrace my role and be the best at that.”
That selfless nature is what has led to Looney — who has averaged just 5.0 points per game in his career and has 10 career three-pointers to his name — carving out a long career with one team. The final year of Looney’s three-year, $22.5 million deal he signed back in 2022 is only partially guaranteed next season at $3 million — it becomes fully guaranteed if the Warriors win the title or right before the beginning of the new league year in late June — which could mean he’s in the midst of his final season with the Warriors.
While he may not be in full control of his future, Looney — who has appeared in 512 games with the franchise, 19th-most in franchise history — would love to finish his career in Golden State. Udonis Haslem — a similar type of role player to Looney, known for his defensive ability — played a total of 20 seasons with the Miami Heat before retiring last year.
“Definitely, that would be dope,” says Looney. “You never know how long you’re going to be around on one team and I’ve been here nine year. But it’s out of my control and you prepare yourself for whatever happens.”