Looney hits minicamp painfree, fancyfree
Over the first two days of Warriors minicamp, center Kevon Looney cut to the rim, set screens and corralled rebounds without hesitation.
This might seem trivial, given that all NBA players are expected to move fluidly. But last season, as he navigated a number of nagging injuries, Looney was often scared that the slightest movement could be disastrous.
Warriors minicamp, which officially opened Wednesday after a 48hour quarantine and runs through Oct. 6, has shown Looney just how far he has come since undergoing surgery in May to repair a coremuscle injury. In his first group workouts in sixplus months, Looney has flashed glimpses of the reliable big man whom head coach Steve Kerr once called “one of our foundational pieces.”
“The last time I felt this good was the start of my third (full) season, so about two years ago,” Looney said. “All of last year and the end of my fourth year, I was kind of dealing with some
injuries. Now, I feel like I can put all those injuries behind me.
“I’m feeling good. I can run freely. … I can just go out there, have fun and really just enjoy basketball.”
This is a major development for the Warriors’ frontcourt. One of Golden State’s most reliable players in 201718 and 201819, he was limited to 20 of a possible 65 games last season as he dealt with a neuropathic condition in his body, left hip soreness and left abdominal soreness.
In 13.1 minutes, Looney averaged just 3.4 points on 36.7% shooting, 3.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists, raising questions about his longterm health. But if Looney can continue to build off his strong start to minicamp, he should cement his spot in the 202021 rotation.
A center platoon of Marquese Chriss and a healthy Looney is a solid start, with the Warriors expected to sign another big man in free agency. Chriss was somewhat of a revelation last season as a rimrunner who excels in dribblehandoffs. Before injuries derailed him last season, Looney thrived enough at the nuances of the game that Golden State signed him to a threeyear, $15 million deal in July 2019.
“Coming into this camp, I got a lot of confidence,” said Looney, who turned 24 in February. “I was doing drills with my coaches live on the court going up and down. So, I feel really comfortable. It’s a different level going against these guys at camp, but I felt good.
“I’m able to do everything, wake up the next day and not be sore, not be in pain. This camp has really been big for me to see where I’m at. That’s why I’ve been so excited.”
Still out: Guard Klay Thompson and forward Eric Paschall missed practice again Thursday as they continue to complete the NBA’s coronavirus testing protocols.