Kevon Looney says how he wants to be remembered by the Golden State Warriors after return

Looney appreciates his time with the Warriors

As one of the franchise stalwarts of the past decade, Looney became synonymous with the Warriors. He was one of the most underrated players because he was never the flashiest either in his stats or his play style.

Looney was always the hard-working big man full of heart who fought for rebounds and loose balls. He was also a reliable big man who knew how to set screens in the convoluted offensive system that Steve Kerr implemented in Golden State.

In his first game back as an opponent, the Warriors organization gave him a warm welcome. They held a press conference and played a tribute video for Looney, which was shown to Looney and the fans at Chase Center. As the player who was given that warm welcome, he appreciates being remembered for his time with the Warriors.

“So many memories that come through from my time here. I’d just like to be remembered as being a tough guy. A guy who showed up every night. A guy who brought his hard hat every night, a guy who never complained about anything,” Looney said ahead of the game on Saturday.

“Whatever I was asked to do, I went out there and tried to do my best. That’s kind of how I want to be remembered.”

Looney will always be the standard for Warriors centers

The Warriors have had many big men over the years, but Looney was a constant. His hard work and hustle always made him a favorite in Kerr’s rotation. As time passed, his role dwindled, especially in the 2024-25 season.

Quinten Post became one of the team’s most important players, which made Looney a bit expendable. Now, they have a rotation of Post, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and Al Horford for the center spot.

The Warriors are fine with that rotation, but it is still a big change compared to when Looney was there. The current rotation does not have the same motor that Looney had during his Warriors stint. This shows that Looney was more important to the Warriors than most people thought.

Now, Looney is having an interesting stint with the Pelicans, as he suffered an injury upon joining them. Thankfully, he is healthy now and ready to keep contributing. He is not the starting center, but he is doing well in the rotation behind standout rookie Derik Queen.