Kevon Looney played a crucial role in the Golden State Warriors’ dynasty, contributing to the team’s three championships over six years. He was a valuable presence off the bench and stepped up as a starter when needed. After spending a decade with the Warriors, Looney eventually left as a free agent to join the New Orleans Pelicans. During his time with Golden State, he shared the court with legendary players, including Kevin Durant.
Durant joined the Warriors in free agency after nine years with the Oklahoma City Thunder and was instrumental in securing the 2017 NBA championship, earning Finals MVP honors with impressive averages of 35.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game, shooting over 50% from the field. While Stephen Curry also played exceptionally well, Durant’s dominance in the Finals was undeniable. Despite this, Looney believes the Warriors could have won the title even without Durant’s presence, although acknowledging it would have been more challenging.
In a 2017 interview on the Warriors and Minus Podcast, Looney expressed confidence in the team’s ability to win another championship without Durant, though he acknowledged they would need to add something to compensate for Durant’s impact. The Warriors went on to dominate the 2017 playoffs, finishing with a 16-1 record, the best postseason win percentage in NBA history, with Durant playing a key role.
After losing to the Cavaliers in 2016, the Warriors added Durant to their roster to overcome their rivals, and his scoring led them to victory in the Finals, securing the championship for Golden State.
Fan Take: This insight from Kevon Looney highlights the strength and depth of the Warriors’ core beyond just star players like Durant. It reminds basketball fans that team chemistry and collective effort remain vital, and even superteams need consistent contributions from role players to achieve greatness. This perspective enriches how we appreciate building and sustaining championship teams in the sport.
