Kevon Looney talks return to Warriors, mentoring James Wiseman after first day of training camp
Near the end of the first day of practice, Looney and Wiseman were going head-to-head under a basket on the side of the practice court at Chase Center.
SAN FRANCISCO — After the confetti stopped falling and the champagne-pouring slowed from the Warriors’ championship celebrations, Kevon Looney had some uncertainty of his future with the only NBA team he had known and wanted to be with.
Of course, he wanted to return to Golden State, who drafted him No. 30 overall in 2015. But worries over the team’s long-term financial constraints due to being so deep into the luxury tax complicated his situation.
Looney entertained other suitors. But ultimately, the three-time NBA champion and the Warriors were able to agree on a three-year, $22.5 million deal.
“I wanted to come back here, have another chance at a championship,” Looney, speaking for the first time with the media since he signed the deal in July, said Saturday after the Warriors’ first day of training camp. “This is the final place, where I really wanted to be.”
After an offseason of celebrating and training, Looney, the only Warriors player to play all 104 games (including playoffs) last season, said his “body is feeling better than ever.” Playing all 82 regular-season games is still a goal of his, though he said he won’t say no to rest if the training staff thinks it’s in his best interest for his long-term health.
Looney is the team’s obvious starting center. But the Warriors will have more depth at center with the return of James Wiseman, who finally has a clean bill of health after he missed all of last season as he was slow to recover from a torn meniscus in his right knee.
Near the end of the first day of practice, Looney and Wiseman were going head-to-head under a basket on the side of the practice court at Chase Center. Looney didn’t take it easy on Wiseman, who looked gassed at times in the final 15 minutes of what coach Steve Kerr called a “heavy load day.” The seven-year veteran swatted away one of Wiseman’s shots with authority and made all of his attempts difficult. Wiseman returned the favor when the ball was in Looney’s hands.
“It’s definitely a lot easier to be able to teach somebody or even just learn from being on the court with somebody,” Looney said. “We both play the same position, we’ve been playing in the same offense, so we both can see different things on the floor. He helped me, I can help him. I kind of know all the ins and outs of the offense. I know what Steph [Curry], Draymond [Green], Klay [Thompson] are thinking out there, Jordan [Poole], I know what they want the big to be at, so I can kind of share that knowledge that took me years to learn and just kind of tell him where to kind of be at.
“But once you get to experience it live and firsthand, it makes things a lot easier to understand and see the pictures a lot easier… It’s good to see him out there playing, he’s healthy, he’s out there super athletic and just as strong as ever.”
Looney has already seen Wiseman make strides this summer in regaining his feel for the game and improving his timing. The veteran also said Wiseman, the No. 2 overall pick in 2020, has become more vocal in practice and confident on the court.
Looney said the two are friendly competitors and both are prioritizing the team’s goal of winning rather than individual recognition.
“We both gotta go out there and do the dirty work and we both take pride in that and we will go out there and do it to the highest level,” Looney said. “So we’re just trying to compete and show that we can be one of the best tandems in that position in the league.”
First-day of camp vibes
Looney smiled when asked about the “lively” scrimmages played at practice Saturday between the starters and bench players.
“Our team got a lot of wins,” Looney said.
The team’s effort in Day 1 got Kerr’s stamp of approval.
“First day of camp is always fun, a lot of good energy and a really good day,” the coach said. “The group that just won the title a few months ago basically dominated practice as they should. Scrimmage, the live stuff, they looked fantastic. Draymond had a good practice, Loon, Steph, Wiggs, everybody looked really good and all the young guys they gotta learn from the older guys.”
Moses Moody’s confidence and poise has impressed Looney, who said the 14th overall pick of last year’s draft “knows where to be.” Jonathan Kuminga also received rave reviews for his athleticism.
But the player who might’ve dazzled most in Looney’s eyes?
Ryan Rollins, the 20-year-old out of the University of Toledo, who was selected in the second round of this year’s draft.
“His feel for the game, the way he can score the ball was a surprise,” Looney said.
Rollins, finally healthy after a minor foot fracture found in a post-draft physical sidelined him for two months, is vying to make the opening night roster as the third lead guard on the team’s depth chart.