Warriors center Kevon Looney has served as a surprise iron man for the team this season, Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area writes. Looney is one of six NBA players to start in every one of his team’s games, joining Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Mikal Bridges, Franz Wagner and Saddiq Bey.
“Loon just does his work every single day,” head coach Steve Kerr said. “He’s the ultimate pro. He understands his body. He understands what it takes to maintain his health and his conditioning, and he’s worked really hard to get to this point.
“He’s been through an awful lot in his career, as you well know, dealing with two hip surgeries and the neuropathy issue from a couple years ago.”
Much of the Warriors’ success has been attributed to Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins, but Looney has played an important role for the club. In 53 games, he’s averaged 6.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 21.1 minutes per contest, shooting 55% from the floor.
Here are some other notes from the Western Conference:
- Blazers interim general manager Joe Cronin cited cap flexibility for why the team traded Norman Powell and Robert Covington to the Clippers on Friday, Ben Golliver of The Washington Post tweets. Portland acquired Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow, Keon Johnson and a 2025 second-round pick in the deal, ducking below the tax this season and clearing some money from the team’s books in future seasons.
- Kevin Pelton of ESPN grades the Blazers-Clippers trade, explaining why he likes the deal more for Los Angeles than Portland. L.A. currently ranks 8th in the Western Conference at 27-27, while Portland sits at 10th with a 21-32 record. Both teams have dealt with injuries to star players this season, as Paul George and Damian Lillard have only played in 26 and 29 games, respectively. Kawhi Leonard has also remained out as he rehabs a torn ACL.
- Spurs assistant Chip Engelland has cleared the NBA’s health and safety protocols, according to Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News (Twitter link). San Antonio now has all of its coaches back. Engelland entered protocols on January 26, the same day that assistants Becky Hammon and Darius Songaila both exited them.
My trade grade
Clippers A
Blazers D
Next season
Clippers can defeat Suns – luxury tax hell
Blazers won’t make playoffs – able to beat Rockets?
Cronin said he’s not going to make any big moves then makes a 5 player trade.
He swapped Powell’s bad deal for Bledsloes bad deal. Swapped Covington for a major downgrade to Winslow and got back Johnson and a second round pick.
Can’t say he won’t stay as GM but I wouldn’t want him as my GM
Bledsoe has 1 year left with only 4 mill guaranteed. This is about “downgrading” Covington to Winslow either it’s about cap flexibility and picking up assets
Not enough cap flexibility to sign FA of note. Not really much future assets either. Its a dice roll on KJ otherwise its pointless.
I thought Bledsloe had more money on his deal than that. Still it helps clear some more off the books but so what. Dame wants that new extension and that’ll just soak up all that money. Not to mention Simons extension aswell.
They won’t avoid the tax, they won’t add anyone noteworthy and they won’t make the playoffs with what they have.
They need to tear it all down and rebuild
Keon Johnson has potential to be a starter or more. He is great athlete!!! Simons needed the playing time. Clippers will be lethal next year.
Cronin has memorized the buzz words, if nothing else. Next time he wants to create “cap flexibility”, he should consult someone who understands the cap space market(s). He bought cap space in the most hyper of sellers’ markets for it; without an immediate need to do so.
Looney is the ultimate “glue” that is holding the Dubs at a high level
Imagine the 5 spot w/out him (knock on wood)..he is so vital to the Dubs..love the fact the Warriors drafted him and helped develop his game..
People love to doodoo on Looney so much because he isn’t a big name like everyone else on the roster. Fact is the guy gets it done.
Kevon Looney is basically Ringo, or that other drummer that looks like Will Ferrell.
or Ferrell’s stepbrother
I suspect Cronin does not evaluate talent well… Or gets the CBA rules. A bad hire.
If you let me pick any Center to start my team with in the NBA, I’m taking Looney