Kevon Looney and his return to Chase Center came with emotion, reflection, and a chance to clear the air.
The three-time champion, now a member of the New Orleans Pelicans, addressed comments he made earlier this offseason about feeling like the Warriors had “forgotten” him, remarks that sparked confusion among fans after a decade of loyalty and winning in Golden State.
“It wasn’t really difficult,” Looney said speaking with Bay Area reporters before Saturday’s matchup, explaining his late-season benching. “Steve is the guy that changes lineups, and you kind of have to wait on your opportunity, and he does it to anybody on the team. He just wants to win. He puts the best lineups out there just to win games. And so, it was a real frustration. I kind of know how he thinks, and I know what he’s trying to do.”
Looney admitted that stepping aside in the playoffs stung, especially with matchups he has historically excelled in.
“As a player, you see the matchups, and you just want something bad to get out there, to leave an impact,” he said. “It was more along that line, but it was no hard feelings. You know, ten years, I had a lot of great memories. More great than bad. There were times when I probably didn’t deserve the opportunity, and the coaching staff put me out there, so it kind of all balances out.”
Those frustrations originally surfaced on The Athletic’s “Warriors Plus/Minus” podcast with Marcus Thompson II, when Looney recalled feeling overlooked.
“I guess,” Looney said when asked if last season’s rotation choices were the final straw. “I wouldn’t say it like that, but it was anybody but me it seemed like at this point. It wasn’t no one moment. Even this year, probably the playoffs. We going up against Steven Adams. This is what I do. They’re not really giving me the chance to really let me do what I do. It’s like, ‘All right, y’all don’t trust me? I thought y’all trusted me.’ They put me at the end in Game 7, it’s like why’d we have to wait for that point?”
READ MORE: Zion Williamson Sidelined With Hip Adductor Strain as Pelicans’ Season Spirals
