Kevon Looney Reflects on Departure From Warriors Before Bay Area Return
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Veteran center Kevon Looney says he never received a contract proposal from Golden State before leaving in free agency last summer, ending a 10-year run with the franchise.
Looney, 29, told the San Francisco Chronicle he wanted to remain with the Warriors but the club held off on talks until forward Jonathan Kuminga’s restricted free agency was resolved. While waiting, the three-time NBA champion secured a two-year, $16 million offer from the New Orleans Pelicans and decided to move on.
“You want to be somewhere forever, but you never know in the NBA. Business is business,” Looney said. “It’s bittersweet. I’ve got an opportunity to go somewhere and experience something new, but leaving somewhere that I call home was tough, and I really had to think about it.”
Looney was a healthy scratch when Golden State visited New Orleans earlier this month. He will face his former team at Chase Center on Saturday, marking his first appearance in the Bay Area as an opponent. “The Warriors always do it top class,” he noted when asked about the expected reception. “I’m always asked if I’m going to cry. I’m like, ‘No, I don’t think so,’ but I don’t know. We’ll see when I get there.”
Through his first games with New Orleans, Looney is averaging 2.4 points and 4.0 rebounds in 13.1 minutes. Despite the modest numbers, Warriors observers, including The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson II, point to the loss of his leadership, rebounding, toughness and trademark screens.
The center said the Bay Area remains special to him. “The love they showed me, the family-oriented vibe of the Bay is something I’ve always been based off of. For them to love me as one of their own is something I’ll always respect,” Looney added.
Source: Hoops Rumors
