Warriors' Kevon Looney exercising $5.1 million option

Golden State Warriors center Kevon Looney made an expected business decision.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Tuesday that agent Todd Ramasar told the Worldwide Leader Looney is exercising his $5.1 million option to remain with the Warriors for the 2021-22 season. The 25-year-old signed a three-year, $15 million agreement ahead of the 2019-20 campaign. 

Across 61 regular-season games in 2020-21, Looney averaged a paltry 4.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per contest. Per Drew Shiller of NBC Sports Bay Area, however, the big man is a rotational player highly favored by head coach Steve Kerr. Even back in May 2019, Kerr sang Looney's praises. 

"Looney has become one of our foundational pieces. He does this every single night," Kerr said at that time, via Kurt Helin of NBC Sports. 

Looney entered the Association when the Warriors selected him 30th overall in the 2015 draft. He made 34 starts this past campaign as Golden State failed to secure a berth in the playoffs, and he will now find himself playing for a larger contract beginning next fall.