The Golden State Warriors showed considerable improvement in the latter half of the 2024-25 season, yet they could not secure a spot in the NBA Finals. Seeking to boost the team’s competitive edge, General Manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. made significant roster changes, including parting ways with a three-time NBA champion alongside Stephen Curry. Following his departure, the player did not hold back and issued some candid remarks about his trade.
During a recent episode of the Warriors Plus Minus podcast, Kevon Looney sat down with host Tim Kawakami to discuss his experiences with the team, who suggested that a preference for Quinten Post might have played a role in his trade. Kevon responded candidly, saying, “I wouldn’t say that, Quinn’s my guy, but it was anybody but me it seemed like. They’re (Warriors) not giving me the chance to really let me do what I do.”
Despite appearing in 76 games in the 2024-25 NBA season, Kevon Looney saw a significant reduction in his playing time. Reflecting on this situation, he admitted when he began sensing a lack of trust from the franchise. “Like, even this year, probably in the playoffs. We’re going against Steven Adams. This is what I do. They’re not giving me the chance to really let me do what I do. It’s like, alright, y’all don’t trust me. I thought y’all would trust me.”
After joining the New Orleans Pelicans, Stephen Curry reached out with a heartfelt message, posting on his Instagram Story: “Forever a legend Toon.” The duo shared 233 games and achieved an impressive win rate of 60.1%, as reported by RealGM. However, his move to the Pelicans offers an opportunity to regain the spotlight on the court, something that might have been elusive under Steve Kerr’s leadership with the Warriors.
Following his departure from the team, the franchise hopes to close on the arrival of Al Horford, who left the Boston Celtics as a free agent to cover Looney’s void. The 39-year-old veteran has managed to remain one of the league’s most intelligent players at his position, averaging 9 points and 6.2 rebounds in the 2024-25 season.
According to Marc Spears, the franchise aimed to finalize his arrival last week. However, the interest from the Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Atlanta Hawks delayed the process. Now, he is even contemplating retirement as a possible option.
Despite this, the franchise might still pursue signing another big man to the roster as Kerr expressed his reluctance to deploy Draymond Green as a center again, hinting that he will pursue a different role in the starting lineup.