Veteran center Kevon Looney is pleased that his days of chasing Luka Doncic around ball screens are over. After signing with the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason, the three-time NBA champion said teaming up with the All-NBA guard will be far easier than trying to stop him.
Speaking on “Mason & Ireland” on ESPN LA Radio, Looney recalled frequent playoff and regular-season battles against Doncic during his time with the Golden State Warriors and, most recently, the New Orleans Pelicans. The 28-year-old big man described guarding the Slovenian star as a constant sequence of pick-and-roll switches and one-on-one isolations that few defenders can survive.
“As a big, you end up in every action he runs,” Looney said. “Now I get to screen for him instead of being the one he targets.”
Los Angeles acquired Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz in a sign-and-trade and later added Looney to reinforce a frontcourt built around maximizing Doncic’s skill in the two-man game. Looney said the next step is learning exactly where, when and how Doncic wants his screens set and the angles that create clear lanes to the basket.
Veteran Presence up Front
Looney is expected to provide rebounding, interior defense and playoff experience while sharing minutes with the 7-foot-1 Kessler. The Lakers currently list only Kessler, Looney and Sandro Mamukelashvili—primarily a small-ball option—as true frontcourt players, prompting the front office to explore additional depth. League sources indicated Chicago Bulls center Jalen Smith has supporters inside the organization, although no formal talks have been confirmed.
The Lakers open training camp later this month, when Looney will begin his on-court partnership with the player who once kept him up at night preparing defensive schemes.
Source: LakersNation.com
