The Warriors Continue To Be Led By An Unsung Hero

When one thinks of the Golden State Warriors, they will think of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, and to a lesser extent, Draymond Green and perhaps Andrew Wiggins.

Big man Kevon Looney has been on the team for eight seasons now, yet he is still an unsung hero in the eyes of most fans.

But if he continues to put up the type of numbers he has been serving up in this year’s playoffs, he will start to get more recognition.

Through eight playoff games, he’s averaging 16.1 rebounds, 7.3 points, and 4.4 assists a game while shooting 54.3 percent from the field.

It has made Looney the first player to average those numbers while shooting at least 50 percent in the playoffs since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1977.

Kevon Looney this postseason:

7.3 PPG
16.1 RPG (!!)
4.4 APG

First player to reach those numbers or better on 50+ FG% in a playoff run since Kareem in 1977. pic.twitter.com/Z7kUEXiqGn

— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 3, 2023

In the first round of the postseason versus the Sacramento Kings, he had at least 20 rebounds three times in seven games, including a 21-board performance in the decisive Game 7.

He then snatched 23 rebounds in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.

Looney averaged career highs of 9.3 rebounds and 7.0 points a game while shooting 63.0 percent during the regular season, and he has gone from a key reserve to the Warriors’ starting center over the last few years.

Against the Lakers, he is facing a tough matchup against Anthony Davis, who went for 30 points, 23 rebounds, five assists, and four blocked shots in Game 1.

As a team, Golden State is undersized in this series, and they will need to get and stay consistently hot from 3-point range while winning the rebounding battle in order to advance.

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